I LIKE!

Sweet and nice!

Tin yang ni tinggi dan besar dari yang atas tadi...bunga pun ala ala bunga Siti Zubaidah

Walaupun myself minat tanam pokok bunga yang beberapa pohon aje kat luar rumah tu tapi kat dalam rumah...tak banyak bunga-bungaan pun. Sebabnya saya rasa bunga hidup lagi mudah dijaga dari bunga hiasan (plastik/kain) ni...sebab the leaves and petals can accumulate habuuuuk! Bunga dan daun fresh kat luar tu takkan berhabuk punya...
Anyhow during my one-month stay at mak's house, saya sempat jugala membeli bunga hiasan with the tin/aluminium container sekali... Di KL tu, ada satu francais barangan perhiasan rumah ala Vintage...that sell most English-based deco items... nama kedai tu KK Home Deco... I have seen a few of the outlets... Dekat Wangsa Maju, tak jauh Carrefour ada satu, hadapan Pertama Complex (panggung wayang lama) dah ada satu outlet, di Shah Alam pun ada di Plaza Alam Sentral, tingkat 5 atas sekali....naik gila dibuatnya melihatkan all the deco items...for those who love flowers, roses printed pinggan mangkuk bolehlah ke kedai tu. Another franchise that sells these English-based deco items that I know is ROMANTIKA, ada kat Ampang satu, kat Shah Alam pun ada juga.
In Dungun also ada juga kedai yang jual barangan macam ni, tapi mahal la... contoh, tin bunga panjang di gambar atas tu ada 2 saiz, setiap satu harga RM29.90 dan RM19.90...kalau di Dungun ni boleh jadi harga RM49.90 dan RM29.90....fuhhhh mahal kan...
Di Paka juga ada satu kedai jual barangan English Deco ni....and that shop sells more than the shop at Dungun ni...so kalau pergi pun layan tengok aje...nak beli...kena balik KL la jawabnya.

ABANG...I BOUGHT US A NEW REFRIGERATOR!

Ni adalah gambar peti ais baru kami...untuk tatapan En Haswadi yang jauh tu! After a 'tragic' incident to the old fridge, I bought us a brand new one! It is LG...quite spacious as compared to SAMSUNG model. It costs me RM1,280.00. I assume this would be our New Year present!

BEING WILD!!!

Thai Jasmine or Melati Putih...yang ni tanam khas dalam pasu...sejak hujan ni...berpuluh kuntum bunga keluar...

This is the wild rose...tapi...jiran sebelah Kak Izan punya...since pokoknya separuh dah masuk ke pagar kami...jadi cantik pulak pagar tuh...so snap jugakla gambar walaupun bukan tanam sendiri...tq kak izan!

ni pokok KEMUNTING...asalnya sepohon kecil aje...haswadi tak bagi kerat...so dah besar dan cantik pulak bunga purple tu!

close-up of the KEMUNTING flower blooming! buahnya masih hijau belum masak lagi

ni bunga tak ingat namanya tetapi kak izan sebelah rumah kata bunga buat nasi kerabu berwarna biru tu! 4 bulan lalu hanya setangkai...sejak hujan ni berimbun jadinya...biru my favorite color!

close-up of the 'bunga biru nasi kerabu' tu

This entry is particularly to show some of the wild plants that I have around the house...even a wild rose tau...tapi yang tu my neighbour punya....
While snapping some photos of the children playing at the frontyard, I walked around the house and found a couple of wild trees like kemunting, 'bunga biru nasi kerabu' (sori tak ingat namanya), dan pink rose!
Since it is the raining season here at the East Coast (Terengganu), lots of wild plant and trees are enjoying their 'life', growing healthily and strong! Tuan rumah tak perlu siram pokok sepanjang 2-3 bulan ini...Alhamdulillah sihat belaka pokok2 ni.
Even I am not as 'strong' as before since the 'accident', my passion towards planting and gardening is still there... After almost 5 months since the 1st August incident that has partially 'interrupted' my physical ability, I have regain now... still limping yet better than before... Unfortunately, the raining season could only allow me to enjoy the plants growing and not planting for more... InsyaAllah by end of January 2009, the season will change to the summer-like weather (macam duduk US pulak...ber'season'). So, if sempat lagi bertanaman...I plan to plant a few more flower trees that are easy-maintenance!
Okay...enough of the plants story..

SATU PETANG DI AWAL MUHARRAM...

Main bola at the frontyard...

Ingat Nadhrah tak perasan ummi ambil gambar...sempat pose lagi!

Nadhrah...our only daugther... at the moment...

Luthfil Hasif...nak jugak buat stunt...tapi since terlebih berat...mampu buat stail ini aje

Ni anak jiran paling tua di kalangan yang lain.. Muiz...tahun depan ni darjah 5..
Yang perempuan tu Najihah, anak jiran yang satu lagi...tahun depan darjah 3...tak panas pun pakai shade..

Haikal yang semakin membesar....nak jadi 'cicakman' tapi pakai outfit superman...apa-apa aje la

Sambil main sempat lagi memberikan pose menarik...my children with their friends...

Si Haikal aka Superman...dah tergolek tak sempat sampai ke garisan penamat

Pantang nampak kamera kanak-kanak sekarang! Haikal tak sempat pose!

Wishing all Muslims a very happy new year! May years to come bring more barakah, prosperity and happiness to your life!
Since nothing much can be done today...the rain stopped right after Asar just now... so my three kids wanted to play outside... Dah bored sangat sebab hujan from morning till roughly 4.30p.m. just now. So I let them since kengkawan anak2 jiran dah mula bermain jam 6 tadi. Halaman rumah dah riuh suara kawan-kawan...yang kat dalam rumah dah macam cacing kepanasan!

For abah tersayang...enjoy the pictures ye!

YA ALLAH....PENATNYA!!! part 2

...so before I paid the taxi ticket at the ERL station at Putrajaya, I did asked the lady at the counter, how am I going to get a taxi from the Wisma Putra to the station?? She said just call the number printed on the ticket... I tanya lagi...betul ke boleh dapat teksi ni nanti? Dengan mimik muka "jangan tanya banyak boleh tak?" the lady said telefon aje...nanti adala teksi! I thanked her, smiled and walked away.
So true, the ride took almost 1o minutes from the station...and I really enjoyed observing the gorgeous buildings at Putrajaya... Wisma Putra nuuuuuuuuuun letak kat atas bukit...
Sambung balik kisah nak keluar dari Wisma Putra.
When I walked out from the Konsular Office that afternoon, I called the number printed on the ticket.. surprisingly there was a guy answered my call. So I told him that I need a taxi to the station, and he said okay, "cik tunggu dalam 10 minit sampai" then I said thank you and walked down to the gate...
Sampai kat pos pengawal tu...saya dah nampak there was a taxi already waiting. And I thought..wow! cepatnya...bagus sungguh servis kat Putrajaya ni... However, a tiny corner in my heart felt that it couldn't be because I just put off the phone and tadaaaa... a taxi already waiting...how come? cannot be ni!
So when I collected my ID from the pengawal loghat Kedah tu... I asked him..."itu teksi sini ke?" "Ntahla kak, saya tak tau" he answered friendlily! Ehmm...I became a little confused, not calm as how I got into the building earlier... whether to ask or not to ask and wait a few minutes more..
'Fortunately', the taxi driver smiled at me sort of giving a clue that he was waiting for a passenger... there were also a few other visitors at the pos pengawal...but everyone rushed out to the parking lot to get the car... leaving me alone with the pengawal loghat Kedah tu...and surely assumed that I was 'the' passenger he waited for!
Dengan 'skill' keberanian dan keramahan sekali lagi.. I walked toward the taxi, opened the door and started asking, "Ini teksi yang saya call tadi ke?" to the Chinese taxi driver yang quite aging dah jugak...dah tua! "He only smiled back at me? Alamak! camane ni...again I asked the same question... suddenly dia berbunyi..."haiyaaa... lu mau tunggu teksi call ka? tak dak sampai punya woohh!...kasi naik saya punya teksi...lu mau pegi mana?"...dalam hati saya... biar betul lelaki ni? kat luar tu memang panas..ya la dalam 4.30ptg...and atas bukit some more....terik jugak...and keadaan jadi serba salah...since that was the only taxi up the hill that moment...and couldn't wait any longer...I jumped into the taxi...sambil tu cakap kat driver tu..."saya sudah call teksi tau...mesti mereka marah saya tak tunggu....saya mau ke stesen saja"..."sapolo (RM10) ringgit!...tapi lu mau pegi mana?" tanya pemandu teksi tu.. "Bukan 8 ringgit je ke? Saya mau pergi KL Sentral (sebab hajat hati nak ronda2 sikit kat KL Sentral tu)". "Haiyaaa saya kasi hantar lu pegi KL Sentral ... 30 linggit (RM30)" the taxi driver pulak negotiated with me. "Takpe la...saya mau pergi stesen saja!" I stressed out... and then he said "okla okla...25 ringgit sampai itu depan KL Sentral..." Quickly did a mathematic equation and calculation there and then...if I take the cab and the train..it'll cost me RM10 + RM9.90 to the KL Sentral... dah total RM19.90 kat situ...dengan teksi uncle ni...RM25 terus depan KL Sentral tanpa perlu turun naik kenderaan, tangga dan tangga dan tangga...especially dengan kaki kiri saya yang menjangkau 5 bulan sejak patah dulu!... ok la good deal...I'll just have to sit quietly in the taxi and let him do his job! Took a glimpse at the dashboard... Lee was his family name and alamat kat Sungai Besi...okay...boleh caya kut!
MasyaAllah...bawak teksi punyala berhemat...slow and steady...till I fell asleep .. tapi tak boleh lama risau jugak...ntah mana yang dia bawak nanti...
Uncle ni punyala "in his own world" tak ingat yang dia bawak passenger..siap pergi kat NGV station to fill up the gas. Siap pergi tandas dan berjalan pusing-pusing keliling teksi dia!... "Mental ke apa uncle nih...quite terrifying jugak...however tawakkal and keluarlah surah-surah 4 Qul untuk elak bahaya...
Alhamdulillah the journey took almost 45 minutes! lamaaaaaaaaaaa tul uncle ni la! He dropped me off at the front entrance of the KL Sentral as he promised...he was a nice old chinese guy...and I know he was really sincere in his job as a taxi driver....cuma mungkin...adala sedikit personal interest when he took me by chance at the Putrajaya tu...because he does not want to go back to KL without passenger...lugi maaaa!
Anyhow, I wish all the best to both the chinese taxi drivers whom I managed to get them in my life history, oh yes the other taxi driver kat Wangsa Maju tu first name dia Wee!... I really hope that my future ride on a taxi could be more 'entertaining' and pleasant than those I had last week!
By 6.30 p.m. that late afternoon, I managed to reach mak's house...feeling so tired yet enjoyable day for me... Alhamdulillah!

YA ALLAH....PENATNYA!!!

I will continue on writing about the preparation I myself been doing these couple of days... and today I guess is the most tiring day...
I went to the Institut Terjemahan Negara to pick up the translated certificates yang mahal tuh. Fine, then I headed on to Jalan Ampang...sesat? of course terlepas simpang dua kali jugak sebab the road was so busy with cars and motorcycles...motorsikal ni la yg buat I terlepas simpang ke Wisma Chinese Chambers tu..sibuk sungguh la Jalan Ampang ni..
So I arrived at the Wisma at 11.05 a.m. Went to the 4th floor and had to leave my IC and handphone before entering the counter. As usual must take the number and sat down before being called. When my number was called, I hurriedly walked to the counter and to my unexpectation, the lady at the counter told me that the certificates must be endorsed by Wisma Putra before the Saudi Embassy verify them. Oh my! I thought the errands can be completed by today but I guess it's not going to happen. It is almost 12 noon and I have to go to Putrajaya and get the task done...
What to do? I do not know where the Wisma Putra located at, I was a little bit afraid to drive alone to Putrajaya, what more to look for the Wisma Putra yang ntah kat mana letaknya. Putrajaya to me is a huge area and you can easily get lost if you really do not know the roads there. I've been there quite a number of times but never drove myself there.
So quickly had an idea, I'd better take a taxi because taxi drivers must really know how to get me there. I realize that the fare must be really expensive for a KL taxi to Putrajaya, but it didn't matter at all because I must reach the Wisma Putra by 2.00p.m., if not I'm afraid that I'd leave for Dungun without completing any...
Since I drove kak long's car to the embassy....now where to park the car if I was going to take the taxi?? So got another idea, drove to the nearby Carrefour...at Wangsa Maju...not so nearla but can do since jalan tak berapa sibuk menjelang jam 12 tu... Parked the car in the Carrefour parking area...konon-konon nak gi shopping le...but then I walked out from Carrefour and crossed the road to the nearest Maybank (just the opposite of Carrefour) and get the RM300 bank draft done (ni nak bayar kat Embassy...RM30 untuk sehelai dokumen yg nak disahkan x 10 helai = RM300)
So selesai kat Maybank nak cari taxi pulak. After a few minutes, came one taxi...the driver was a Chinese man. I asked "Putrajaya boleh tak?" to the taxi driver. He said "Tak pegi la...manyak jauh!", "Biasa berapa ambik pegi Putrajaya?" , "50 ringgit" he answered.. "Ok, I bayar awak RM100 pergi balik..." I negotiated. "Tak pegi la...tapi saya kasi tau awak..naik itu tlen (train) lagi senang" he exclaimed. "Oh ye ke?" I reassured him. "Mari mari masuk...saya kasi hantar lu pegi itu LRT station...lu pegi itu KL Sentral naik itu tlen pegi itu Putlajaya...lagi senang."...wah bagusla apek ni...baik hati sungguh dan jujur I thought... so without thinking further and I'm sure he really wants to help me...so I took his advice. His fare was RM3.20 (of course using the meter) to the nearest LRT at Alpha Angle Wangsa Maju... like 6 or 7 km from Carrefour. I thanked him for the advice and 'fled' to KL Sentral. Tambang Wangsa Maju ke KL Sentral is RM2.30
Sampai Kl Sentral...terpinga sekejap...what's next? Dengan menggunakan 'skill' keramahan dan keberanian, saya pun pergi ke kaunter pertanyaan dan tanya Tren nak ke Putrajaya. "Akak naik KLIA Transit kat depan sana tu" kata cik adik manis yang bertugas tadi. So saya pun ke kaunter tiket dan tanya lagi kat cik abang handsome kat situ, "Sampai kat stesen Putrajaya nanti, ada ke teksi tunggu penumpang?. "Teksi ada bas pun ada kak, akak nak pergi mana?" tanya budak handsome tu. "Saya nak ke Wisma Putra." "Oh 10 minit je dari stesen tu," kata budak handsome tu. "Naik teksi je cik, terus ke Wisma Putra, kalau bas leceh berhenti-henti!" jerit satu suara kat belakang saya...eh siapa pulak yang menyampuk ni? toleh ke belakang, ada seorang lelaki awal 40-an...ala ala muka macam Ali Mamak tersenyum kat saya..'oh okay, saya naik teksi je la...terima kasih ye!" So I paid RM9.90 for the train to Putrajaya.
The journey was calm and peaceful...tak ramai yang guna KLIA Transit ni berbanding ERL yang non-stop tu...sentiasa penuh.
Terlelap jugaklah sekali dua sebab letih setengah hari ke sana ke mari...
Sampai stesen, bayar kupon RM8 untuk teksi ke Wisma Putra...Bas memang ada...tapi malas nak tanya...
Sampai Wisma Putra tepat 2.05 minit...okay just nice kaunter petang baru buka. Masa kat pagar masuk, pengawal sibuk tanya nak buat apa kak? Nak cop wisma putra sijil surat beranak dan sijil nikah, saya jawab. Sapa punya? pengawal tu tanya. Saya dan anak-anak punya. Akak nak gi mana?.....ishhh tanya banyak la pulak pengawal loghat Kedah ni. Nak gi Arab Saudi, InsyaAllah. "Oh...mesti yang ramai-ramai baru ni datang dr Terengganu nak kerja kat Arab tu ke?" balas pengawal tu. Terkezzut sekejap bila pengawal tu cakap macam tu...macamana pulak la dia tahu yang saya ni dari Terengganu dan suami kerja Arab nih...kes serkap jarang je ni...tapi betul jugak... cuma Haswadi tak ada la pulak ke Wisma Putra mintak cop...agen yang buatkan....ehmmm apa-apa je la labu...dah malas nak layan, saya iyakan aje...
Naik ke kaunter...MasyaAllah orang dah ramai rupanya...kat luar punya lah aman damai suasana, tapi kat dalam agak hiruk pikuk dengan pelbagai warna manusia, putih, hitam, coklat, kuning, kelabu asap pun ada. Dapat nombor 1124...nombor terkini 1118...okay le tu...not long I supposed. True, I waited like 5 minutes, my number was called. Paid RM100 for 10 pieces of certificates and the lady told me to wait till they call the number again when it is done. Fine, so I waited.....to cut short, at 4.10p.m. only then my number was called....oh my! I waited for two hours to get it all done....so buat apa 2 jam tunggu lama tu?? Mengantuk Allah aje yang tahu...takkan nak tidur baring kat kerusi menunggu tu kan...so saya layan perasaan je sambil melihat gelagat orang ramai di situ....macam-macam ada!
Actually I am at the moment soooooooo mengantuk....cerita hari ni tak habis lagi....sebab the journey back to KL pun agak hap'pening' jugak... so how? I'll continue later ... I mean tomorrow okay.... manyak penat lo!...kaki manyak sakit!
Total up, my expenses for today for the errands is RM448.30...still not cheap....duit manyak habis lo! Wonder how much the agent will charge on that yeah??

THE TRANSLATION

Like I wrote last night, this morning I went to the Institut Terjemahan Negara at Wangsa Maju. Sesat la sikit because I am only familiar with the Carrefour area...but the institute is a little further uptown. Anyway managed to reach there at 9.00a.m. Below is exactly what I spent this morning there:

Translation from Bahasa to English (BM to BI):

Birth certificate ------------RM50.00 x 3 certs = RM150.00
Marriage certificate --------RM80.00 x 2 certs(husband & wife) = RM160.00
plus 25% (one-day process..kes nak cepat) = RM 77.50
TOTAL= RM387.50

Wahh!not cheap la...
Tomorrow all the documents can be picked up at 10.00 a.m. And I plan to go to the Saudi Embassy right after that. Doesn't know what more cost could be incurred...better get prepared with a few hundreds more... The Saudi Embassy is located at Jalan Ampang, next to RISDA building. Pernah la lalu lalang jalan tu sebelum ni, like 3 - 4 years back...hopefully tak sesat lagi esok.

MY SPECIAL BAJU KURUNG OF THE YEAR!

Model atas ni tengah menggayakan sepasang baju kurung dan perhatikan "berlian" yang mengerlip kat bahagian tangan tu.. One of the things that get done during my stay in KL... The cost of the material (lilitan aksesori bermotif berlian tetapi mcm polycarbonated one) is RM40 and the upah jahit is only RM20. Cheap...so cheap as compared to get it done in Dungun, surely reaches RM100 ++. The baju was specially prepared for the Majlis Makan Malam Kualiti UiTM Terengganu 2008.
The model was so satisfied with the outcome of the accessorized baju kurung... lagipun...bukan ada baju lain yg macam tu pun...the above is the first in the collection! That is the reason for this special entry about the baju kurung... layaaaannnnnnnnn!

SAUDI PREPARATION...

Today is the 42nd day Haswadi is away from us. This is the longest ever period we've been apart. "How do you feel?"someone asked, "biasa je..." I said. "Sure ke?" she continued, "so...what do you want me to say?"..."ohhhh I miss him so much!", "I could not live without him!"...kind of answers ke??
Naahhhh... Haswadi and myself never...I recall...never been the lovey dovey romantica d'amour kind of couple...even since we've started dating for real...we've dated plenty of times initially during the study years, but not for real...when we came back to Malaysia in 1998 only then we've got ourselves involved seriously...
Missing him is definitely what I feel now ... tak leh tipu larrr...8 years together maaa! But since both of us ni "couple rock" so tak de syahdu syahdan pun rindu rindu ni... Anak2 okay...because I make sure that I mention "abah's" name everytime during conversations...so that they will not feel they've lost him or something ... InsyaAllah for the time being only! It is always abah says this and abah says that...abah does not like it that way...or abah surely will feel happy kind of remarks mentioned to the kids... hopefully abah tak 'tersedak' all the time ye...
Since almost a month in KL ni pun lagi la banyak gak aktiviti yg dilakukan that will divert a little bit of my mind from thinking about him... but of course...suami tercinta mesti number one in my heart! Tapi tak guna jugak nak syahdu syahdan when you know that you can't be with him till every process necessary been settled. So doa banyak dan tawakkal to ALLAH SWT so that I will be patient enough...strong enough, mentally and physically without him...
Tomorrrow I will be going to the Institut Terjemahan Negara at Seksyen 10, Wangsa Maju to get a few documents translated from Bahasa to English. The latest regulation by the Saudi Government requires that all translated documents then need to get the approval from the Royal Embassy in Kuala Lumpur...that is located at 258, Wisma Chinese Chamber, Jalan Ampang. InsyaAllah I will try to get those two errands done before going back to Dungun. This Thursday is a Public Holiday, Christmas! Pray hard so that it'll be settled.
Just got latest info from Haswadi that the Visa application can be done at Rayhar's Travel & Tours je.. no need to get the Firestar Agency to do it... One of his friends already with the family in Yanbu, KSA...the wife went to Rayhar's at Dungun aje...siap jugak and it is a little bit cheaper than Firestar. InsyaAllah I will do that too since tersangat lah senangnya boleh urus from Dungun itself..
I guess I need to get an early sleep tonight... till then!

LAGI JALAN-JALAN TERENGGANU...part III

We performed our Zohor prayer at the Masjid Kristal...to end our Jalan-jalan Terengganu trip!

The mosque of Pattani, Thailand that looks alike one of the Disney castles at first...the colors are so cheerful!

Taj Mahal Cinta...aduhaiiiii so pure and serene...

At the front of Kubah As Sakhrah, Palestine...huge!

Masjid Shaykh Lutfallah, Iran

JALAN-JALAN TERENGGANU...part II

Masjid Mohd Ali, Egypt...actually attracted to the clock tower...very unique

Masjid Suleyman, Turki

WHEN I WAS AWAY...JALAN-JALAN TERENGGANU

Gallery at the Great Mosque of Qairawan, Tunisia

Masjid Kul Sharif, Russia...clean cut! Nice

Masjid Xian, China

a good exercise for my fractured ankle and feet...fuhhh

ambil gambar sempoi Hakim berjalan di tepian pantai yg ombaknya ala-ala ganas dan besar itu.

Me and Aisyah di Pantai Dungun...just a few hundreds metres from my house...suka budak2 tu tengok pantai...

The last day back to KL, ada kucing sesat masuk dalam rumah....berkejaranlah dengan si Hakim halau keluar..panjat sampai kat tingkap...akhirnya terjun ke bawah jugak kucing tu.

Aisyah, myself and Hakim...gambar kenangan kat rumah Dungun

Alhamdulillah, I am back again..after quite a while. Actually, my whereabouts are quite complicated because although I live in Dungun, Terengganu...I am now almost one month already in Sentul Kuala Lumpur, mak's house. Just recently pulak, balik Dungun 4 hari sebab ada a few things to settle...pasal kereta yang telah dijual, pasal event Majlis Makan Malam Kualiti UiTM Terengganu, pasal rumah yang dah ditinggalkan 2 minggu lebih, pasal rumput yang dah panjang sebab tuan rumah bercuti...dan lain-lain hal... dan ada 'satu hal' yang soooo kelakar has happened...I'll try to write a special entry nanti la...
My short trip back home to Dungun was without the kids, instead I brought back home two teenagers...Aisyah and Hakim (adik-beradik). Let story a little bit about them..these two teenagers aged 18 and 15 are the two of the five siblings whom my mak took care when they were small. Mak mengasuh mereka adik beradik sejak lahir since both parents bekerja...so secara tidak langsung myself and my kak long also telah menjaga budak-budak ni. The family relationships between mine and them are so special...we even treated ourselves just like 'adik-beradik' and 'anak-beranak' Tak sangka sungguh when they grow up...they are just like friends to me...
Since Aisyah and Hakim last visit to Terengganu was like 8 years back (during my wedding--satu bas rombongan dari Sentul ke Paka masa tuh!) so bila dah besar...I voluntarily invited them to 'jalan-jalan Terengganu'. A treat from the 'kakak' since I tak ada adik...I am the youngest of two...yes...just kak long and me in the family... However, mak ada ramai 'anak' sebab she has taken care not less than 10 children from 3 - 4 different families. All the children sampai dewasa memanggil 'mak' to my mom...and they all are so manja till sekarang pun.

I took them to the Taman Tamadun Islam and visited all the world's mosques at the Taman Monumen...Aisyah and Hakim really enjoyed the trip and Hakim showed his photography skills...okay la... he's 15 anyway.

FAIRY TALE PRINCESS...

This particular entry is so special. I've just a few minutes ago switching on the lappy and reading blogs of my choice. If you can take a look at the right column of my space here, there is a list of blogger that I chose to read their stories ... because they are just interesting and enjoyable to read about. Basically those blogger are people whom I've never met before except for MrsNordin, Hasway, and Peesha. I know I am a silent reader at most times... it means that I read them but once in a blue moon commented on their entries...so as to show an appreciation, I included their blogs in my blog list! However, I do get frustrated occasionally if them bloggers did not update their stories :( because I really enjoy reading 'em!
My point for this entry is to share with the others of who am I...according to the fairy tale princesses stories.. SHOULD THANK YOU to NEEZA from the Slice of Bledho who has shared hers in her blog just a few hours ago.. I am so excited to know who am I? so I quickly clicked the widget site and did the quiz... (thank you Ms NEEZA, hope you don't mind sharing!)
And the result of the FAIRY TALE PRINCESSES quiz...I am a CINDERELLA!! I'm sure Haswadi will 'guling-guling' ketawa kat I kalau dia baca nih... His wife is alike CINDERELLA!
So I am going to share the profile of 'me' down here:

You Are Cinderella!

Dignified and hard working. With a gentle and soft-spoken manner you have something many people don't. Patience. Even through the moments of heartbreak you're still able to hold onto all of your hopes and dreams. Bide your time; your dream will come true.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

Hasways Family Look Alike

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Yad Vashem research - Black and white photographs

Hasways Family Look Alike

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Family websites - Geneology

Hasways Family Look Alike

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebrities - Collage - Morph

SOME UPDATES...

Sigh!!! I am quite tired already surfing for music play list websites that can be copied to my blog...successfullly. The one that is on the left column of my page ni is not functioning la...I do not know what went wrong but I guess it must be the copied code that is not fully functioning! Masuk yang itu, dah 3 jenis dah...hemmm buta IT sungguh la norma ni! Ke memang all the 'music boxes' that I've surfed to memang cannot use punyeee??
My songs list is getting longer everyday but yet to choose the 'music box' that really works well. Help! Help! Help!...ehh ada ke orang nak tolong? Tak pe la...I won't give up..I'll keep on trying...

It is like two days already after the Eidul Adha...nothing much happens. Tomorrow my son, Luthfil Hasif will start his first day of Kem Ibadah Tahfiz sempena cuti sekolah ni... Luckily we are in Kuala Lumpur, so dapatlah peluang menghadiri kem-kem ilmu ni...It is not like I cannot teach him at home...but to allow him experience himself what is like going out there other than to schools and learn more! The camp will be conducted by an Ustaz and an Ustazah...the best thing is, the location is very near to mak's house...just a walking distance. My sister, kak long who has suggested the camp. At least the boys kat rumah ni ada activity cuti sekolah...which I believe is very good. So a little bit of info about the camp.. The fee is RM80 per person and limited to only 10 boys and 10 girls from age seven till twelve. The class starts at 8 in the morning and finishes at 5.00 p.m.... for two weeks! Cheap huh? Yes very cheap.. The ustaz and ustazah must be two very generous people and I strongly believed that their effort of organizing the camp is for Lillahita'ala..for the sake of ALLAH SWT and for the proseprity of ummah! Wishing both of them more rezeki and pahala from ALLAH SWT.
To Luthfil, ummi hopes that you will benefit from the camp...enjoy yourself and please obey the ustaz okay! His cousins are also joining the camp (kak long's sons...Naqiudin, Al Adl and Sirajuddin). So behave boys! Don't create headache to the ustaz and ustazah tau!
As for Nadhrah, this morning I started her reading activity...just to refresh what she learned in school. One thing about her which is different from Luthfil is that she loves reading...a lot. At present...she will simply read and pronounce whatever word that she sees. Be it on TV, newspaper headlines, even the botol sos pun dia nak baca... she completed a few short story books in bahasa this morning... I also managed to show her Year 1 Science book borrowed from her cousin...and she was so interested to know more..she was also able to pronounce some of the English words in the book and understood the meaning...awesome! So ummi is very excited to teach and show her more tomorrow...
Abah's story pulak...asyik jalan-jalan cari makan! Last time I talked to him was 4 hours ago. The last SMS I received from him was like 20 minutes ago... he and his friends are enjoying Malaysian dishes at the Malaysian Kitchen in Al Khobar.. He ordered nasi goreng and teh tarik only...but he said...Normawati's Kitchen lagi beeeeeeesssst! hahahahaaa.. thank you for the compliment dear! Well at least he enjoys his loooong holiday there!
As for me... ntah apa apa je...other than enjoying blogging and web surfing...fulfilling the kiddos demands after demands ... watching News ..reading 2 or 3 different kinds of newspaper everyday, some cooking although mak ada...apa lagi masa ni la nak layan makan minum mak...dari kecik asyik mak aje yg prepare...so sekarang ni jamu mak makan la pulak... This afternoon buat cucur pisang emas...yesterday buat kek coklat kukus (guna instant mix je) but it turned out really good. The kids ni suka sangat...semalam jugak habis!
As I've storied before...wanted to 'fix' my hair...tak buat-buat lagi... The main reason for delaying the rebonding ni because the hairdresser said that at my hair length, the process takes from 3 - 4 hours! What? lamanyeeee... "manyak penat mau tunggu lo!" I said to her..."mau kasi cantik maaa!" she replied! I guess the lady has impatiently waiting for me to come back as promised...
Rasanya kena bawak lappy ni sekali la ke kedai tu...boleh web surfing...okay jugak idea tu kan?
InsyaAllah I will go on one of these days..

NASI MINYAK STORY...

The Eid celebration went very well.. Its good to get to meet people whom I've not seen for quite some time... The food preparation was a little tiresome, yet felt so much gratified that the guests were enjoying the food very much. My Spaghetti Bolognese was a 'hot-pick' at the table. The 'udang masak merah' on the other plate, was my latest invention of the shrimp recipe...paired with the nasi minyak...wow! it was a 'perfect-match'!
This raya, there were no rendang or ketupat or lontong as usual...I told my mother...let's get out of the usual menu...and let the guest enjoy our nasi minyak puri, udang masak merah, ayam goreng berempah, dalca daging, spaghetti bolognese and the acar this time...well not bad at all, we successfully filled up their tummies!
The nasi minyak menu actually has a story behind it!... It starts like this; I was born in Melaka...where both my mak and arwah abah originated from!... I grew up entirely in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur... Of course as a typical daughter who would like to see both of my parents happy with me and my sister (there are only my kak long and me!)both of us really worked hard to succeed in schools and in life! I considered kak long and me are our parents best achievement in their life! They have patiently and endearingly grew us up until we become what we are today...only ALLAH knows how I feel inside with an endless 'thankfulness' from me to them.
To cut short, both kak long and myself tracked some successful paths on the way up...on which has led the 'nasi minyak' influence to my family! Both of us went to ITM, both of us continued our studies overseas...both of us Alhamdulillah married to two wonderful and nice gentlemen, my brother-in-law is from Puchong and my hubby is from Paka, Terengganu...
Mentioning Terengganu....this is where the 'nasi minyak' story starts... living in Terengganu initially was quite a surprise for me...however, considering myself as the true 'survivor', I went along tremendously well in a place and town that I've never thought of before.
Nasi minyak to a Kuala Lumpur girl like me was only a dish served at special occassions like kenduri khawin, kenduri doa selamat, and yes of course during kenduri khawin la... In Terengganu, nasi minyak is served as a breakfast, lunch and even for dinner...everyday!...again let me highlight...nasi minyak to a 'Terengganuian' is just like an everyday, all the time menu...
You can get 'nasi minyak' with gulai ayam or gulai daging with acar timun in almost all morning breakfast stalls in Terengganu...some also sell it late afternoon till midnight...and let me tell you...the Terengganu nasi minyak is so darn nice!
My husband for example is really a 'hard-core' Terengganuian...I remembered once during our early marriage, I prepared some french-toasts for breakfast on one weekend morning, assuming that I will not feel that much guilty of not preparing him some light and healthy breakfast... he did enjoyed my french toast with a couple of cups of coffee that early morning... Later in the mid-morning...he went out to get a newspaper...along with the newspaper he brought home 2 bungkus of nasi minyak...his only excuse (I supposed)...that he felt he had wasted the car fuel just to get a newspaper that morning and that he went to the regular nasi minyak stall at Dungun and bought 2 bungkus...so he came back feeling so much satisfied that he had consumed the car fuel wisely!...ye ke bang? You lapar tu! Oh dear!
That was just an incident out of many that i've experienced with the 'nasi minyak' story..untill after a few years later...I am so much used to it...and began to learn to prepare myself...Alhamdulillah I am a fast-learner at food! So nasi minyak is like the 'biasa' menu for me now...
When we balik raya to KL alternately...every year, I will surely cooked nasi minyak as the main menu...why? because I know...my hubby will surely 'kelaparang!(hungry)' if we only served ketupat or lemang, rendang or lontong only during raya!...
So this time of Aidiladha, even though my hubby is not with us this time...I thought mak will not be so keen to prepare such heavy dishes (the nasi minyak and lauk pauk)...still she insisted me to prepare it jugak this time...sebab awal lagi dia ada kata...kalau adik(my 'local' nickname) balik nak suruh masak nasi minyak..."haswadi tak ada mak...kita masak la apa-apa.." says me. "Tak apala...masak je nasi minyak tu"...okay mak...kita masak nasi minyak raya ni ye...kesian lak haswadi tak dapat makan nasi minyak raya kita kali ni...."

NEW LOOK!

Like it or not? After a few hours googling, blog hoping and stuffs...here is my 'new look' I've managed to download it from a site through "BLOGGER TEMPLATES"... to me .. it is soooo nice...so cheerful, so colorful yet the color blends very well here... Umm I should credit the creator of this template...but I forgot the author...later I will write here.
Actually this template is the second in my list of template choices...I could not download it at html so I went to the second in the list. It was quite interesting looking out for the templates...so 'challenging' I supposed...why? the answer is very simple....you could not make your decision...when you have tons of it in front of you....urghhhhhh! That means I have to create more blogs so that I can pick all the templates that I like!
Unfortunately, when you used this template...you would loose a few items in your blog like your links and your gadgets...so better save or download your blog somewhere else...or another quick way to save what u already have (partially) is to always preview before saving...it saves your time and helps you make your mind easily...
Oh...now I realize that it takes a lot of patience and decision making in blogging...for example like for myself...even if I've 'written' a long entry that is so darn interesting...it does not mean that I will put it up on my blog...the reason being is that I COULD NOT MAKE UP MY MIND!...whether to let others know about it or not.
Of late, I've been thinking of this blogging activities...does blogging actually depicts what you feel, what you think and what you say transparently??
I've visited numbers of blogs throughout my 'journey' (and that is why you see I've only got a small number of entries only...hahahaaaaa....always 'sibuk-king' other peoples' work!)
So I thought, 'BLOG ETIQUETTE' should be present in the bloggers' mind every time putting in entries! I have also seen blogs in which the blogger(s) got carried away with their stuffs...funny when reading things that people put up on their blogs...hei...what the heck?? It is a 'free country!' anyway!...but if it is of RPK (Raja Petra)...then you'll be in trouble! ISA anyone?
There I go...I prefer not to discuss about 'heavy' stuffs...but see! as I go further... I myself got carried away too!
Recalling about making up my mind...pardon me if the next time around you would see a different template altogether.... come on norma! hurry up! the new year is around! make your choice dear!
Till later...

The time is 12.30 midnight. I could not sleep...as usual...when I am badly tired or fatigue...I could not sleep...I mean getting an early sleep, even I have flipped my pillow several times to get the colder side...but it failed! So what did I do during the day?? Haaaa....ni nak story nih... Like I've written before, if I come down to KL, I would shop...so what else shopping le...... It has been two-days in a row that I went out shopping. Limping left leg definitely is not an excuse for me to be 'wild' out there...Actually I just went to only two malls but I felt that I've spent a lot already...never mind norma!...it is time to 'pay' you dear. So I spent at Ariyani (the tudung boutique) which my kak long bragging about before...she took me there and wallah! Bought 5 different colors of tudung...the most easiest, less time, ironless tudung of course! They are so manageable, fit and marvellous! I bought myself black, dark blue, dark brown, light grey and stripy turquoise and brown in-one. I bought a pair shoe from SCHOLL. Bought two blouses from Ms Read, 4 blouses from FYi, Bought dresses from PONEY for my daughter and my niece, a few collared shirts from PONEY and MIKI only...OSH KOSH? next time pulak la. It should be the raya treat for the little ones from mak usu!
My skyping activity with dearest hubby goes on really well too. I get to talk to my husband almost every night now. We'd talked for like two-hours each time...including call-dropped time and pause for solat time. I am so relieved to hear him happy with life at Jubail City. He's been to places around the town like to the market, the malls, the mosque and the streets of course! Tomorrow, Friday he'll be going to a big city near by, Al Khobar, with most of his Malaysian friends. They'll be getting 9-days public holiday in a row for the Eidul Adha. And of course he would be spending most of the days at the apartment I guess. Anyway, enjoy life dear! Behave and be nice!
My next personal plan would be ... getting my hair straightened...what? yes 'rebonding' time...see...this time around I am really enjoying myself...and of course spending money like 'wisely' (an alternative way of saying 'crazy' because then I really feel guilty if I use the word crazy!)! 4 months for not been doing nothing...now the time has come!
So till then...

THE FAREWELL...shedding tears!

The meeting went very well, except a few little issues regarding the students performance and also the lecturers!...emmmm
Thank you so much to the faculty for organizing a farewell session right after the meeting, basically lunch together like what we occasionally do after meetings....eat...eat...and more eat!
The chairperson whom happened to be Suffian my KP partner, gave out some speech recalling the 'normawati' experiences, achievements, the good things of course...and how I am so 'fast' with everything....actually Suffian...I am not fast la...you guys yang so darn slow!....just kidding suffian!
And then PM Ismail gave out his own version of 'normawati'...I was so touched! Why? I hope he was sincere...is that right PMI?
Like I've written in one of my entries on the ups and downs that I've went through to 'refresh' the faculty, to motivate the students, to get all faculty members actively participating in the campus activities...and others...

I used to stay up at the office till late night..like 12.00 a.m. just to get things in order...the students matters, the staffs matters and other related tasks!

I used to keep coming back to the office even during weekends, where most of you out there happily enjoying time with the kids at home...my kids had to stay at home and watched me walked out of the door to the office on weekend morning!...how cruel ummi!...I am so sorry guys...that was also part of my responsibilities...you know la...UiTM DIHATIKU!

And just before the 'accident', I was actively involved in the team building activities organized by the MOULDER TaCC(Motivational, Outdoor, Leadership Training & Consultancy)..a group formed informally by PM Mejar Ustaz Zaid Ngah..a very prominent person at UiTM Terengganu. I began to love what he is doing with the team and has been involved together as one of his team members. I've met people from all backgrounds, school children, UiTM other members etc...
I really wish that one day Ustaz Zaid would materialize MOULDER TaCC and formally register the team at UiTM.. wishing you all the best! I also hope that you would find more lecturers joining the team and contribute to the communities...by right that is exactly what we the lecturers are supposed to do apart from teaching and stuffs. Getting ourselves involved with people, intellectually contributing to the communities and definitely educating people on the importance of being educated, self-disciplined, the best ummah on earth, and the importance of being the real person!

But I am pretty sure that I am going to miss all those days soon. Some say that I am a workaholic!...true .. I would agree! I would answer them by saying that is what being passionate all about. I love my job...I have passion and surely patience at my work. I considered myself as a very committed person in whatever that I do.

All in all, syukur to Allah swt, for all His blessings especially in achieving all my dreams... Allah has given me all the opportunities and that I would never wasted it. Alhamdulillah I would surely hope that I will have a happy ending and some sort of leaving behind my 'legacies'... for the others to follow, to improve, to meet with more successes!
Like one quote that I've had, "Success is when you find the path that never used by others!"

So till then...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY...HASWADI YUSOF

Today, 28th of November is the birthday of dearest husband, Haswadi Yusof... first time after 8 years, he is away from us on his birthday. I remember buying birthday cake for him every year...but this time around unfortunately I'll just buy for the kids and myself... Dear Haswadi, you are another year older! May ALLAH blesses all your undertakings, may you have better health, safe and happy there. Since you are not going to be around, presenting your birthday cake for this year...virtually dear! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! When you come back...I'll get you the real one okay.

FACEBOOK FEVER....again!

Well...what should I say....the facebook really gets me glued at this computer chair!
Morning...facebook...
afternoon...facebook...
evening...facebook...
midnight...facebook...
Even I have like 5 minutes to spare....facebook!!!
Even when the kiddos are at their 'high-time'...facebook
what more...when they are fast asleep and the world is so peaceful and calm...FACEBOOOK!!!
I am expanding the friends list at facebook...tracking down old-time friends...at school...at high school...at previous workplaces...and the rests...not forgetting my students too.
50 is still a small number to many...but to me... with only less than two weeks...is awe'some'!
And of course when Haswadi move to the new apartment at Jubail City this Thursday (yes dear?)...he'll be able to get me here...or the facebook!!!
okay...okay...I will be so busy then...of course...I should come out with more plans for the kiddos..."okay, sorry!...ummi has to finish up a few things here!".... "get busy and behave guys!"
I just knew the kiddos won't take it this time..."ummi always have 'things' to finish up!??" what could it be this time? hahahaaaa...gotcha!
Sorry... I am having some short 'mental-dialogues' with myself...when you become the mother to three small kids... like mine ... you'll have to have this 'mental-dialogue'...kids are smarter now... thanks to the TV! urghhhh!... So to be prepared, always take time doing your "mental-dialogues"...when doing the dishes is a good time! Just to be prepared!
And while I'm writing down this...they are just a few metres away from the lappy...jumping up and down the bed and yelling here and there! But..norma be smart...calm down...don't yell at them...just let them be..as long as they are happy and safe!...it should be fine...
So tomorrow I should be going to the office again...and hopefully everything for the meeting will be completed by tomorrow...and I am sure Dr Baharom is going to take care of it really well...he is the sifu maaa!
Oh... I am going to miss all those wonderful times at the campus...I mean the office...the students, the staffs, my dearest friends whom I just love to be around with...
Dungun is really a place that I would miss a lot soon... and I just wonder whether I will be back at Dungun?? With ALLAh's will, we'll meet again...Ameen...

It is almost 3 in the morning...and I am still up!

It is in the blood already...when I am tired or fatigue even worst...I could not sleep...why?? Like I wrote...it is in the blood already! The more my body is weak out of hectic errands of the day...my eyes just stay wide open...
Today, I just had a few slices of bread for breakfast, lunch and two Oreos for dinner! The day is so tiresome...I had to rush here and there, getting the car battery replaced, out for some groceries, went to the computer shop to get my D-Link function again!..came back home...ohhhh forgot the rubbish...went out again.
The kids? There were just playin kids...as usual! Tagged me along the whole day! Haikal ended up fell asleep at an odd hour ... tired too I guess!
Luthfil as usual...only sleeps at night...again let me repeat...my eldest son ONLY sleeps at night! No morning-nap, or afternoon-nap for this little guy...ONLY AT NIGHT! I always story him about the benefits of taking a nap during the day...To him sleeping during the day "tak bagus ummi...", "nanti luthfil letih....." ye la tu!
I cooked them "sup ketam" today...Luthfil's favorite! Nadhrah is okay with it...loves it tooo, Haikal...no..no..no..."apa tu ummi?" "Ketam!" Tak nak!..."Okay! Ikan ada...."
Late afternoon...Luthfil is already asking.."esok masak ape ummi?" "Ehmmm...tak fikir lagi la"
Just wait and see what will be in the pot ye Luthfil...
Tomorrow will be another hectic day for me...why? The car-starter need to be serviced and need to check the dynamo tooo...aiyooo apa benda la ni...buat je...asal kereta okay!
Till then!

NORMA! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?? uhuhukkk kasi chance la...my few last moments at UiTM!

books!books!books!
what are you writing norma? resignation letter ke?
still jotting down a few things to do after this...

a smile of 'victory!'

Salam

For the past few days I was at work....what? Is your ankle alright already? Yes, alhamdulillah I can walk again...but of course a little bit slower than before...a little bit more careful this time!

The first day I climbed up the stairs...took ages to reach to the second floor (my previous office room). Now I have moved to the first floor the new office room, just for temporary, because very soon the new office room will be occupied by the new coordinator. However, I managed to get a few snapshots of the new room which I arranged and organized for the past few days...

It is so important that I capture the moments before I am off to KSA...InsyaAllah.

To the new coordinator...take a good care of the room because it belongs to B. OSM program now!

After two years struggling to get the coordinator's room for the program, I managed to get one. Thank you to the TPHEA for granting us the new room. Although I will no longer be the coordinator, but I am so much relief because B. OSM is now 'well-established' in its new 'environment' ... sigh!...for good..as long the program stays alive and growing...InsyaAllah.

FACEBOOK FEVER!

I am on a 'fever' now...oh this 'facebook' thing really helpful... It is so like down the memory lane and events of the pasts 'pop' out of my head just like that. It so good to 'see' my long-time-no-see friends especially from the school years. I hope I managed to get in touch with the rests soon. Not forgetting during the ITM years! You guys just so wonderful.

I am just nobody but someone with all the memoirs of all the encounters. When I go back to my hometown in Sentul especially when passing by at the Sekolah Menengah Convent Sentul...I will always... without fail! take a glimpse at it thinking that my eyes would fall on someone just somebody that I've known...

Know what...this name 'Thavamalar' remains fresh in my mind...how I wish I get to know how she's like now... Oh I always enjoy talking to her with all her stories with her dialect and stuff!

Another friend of mine Christina Paul Raj...where are you girl?

Anyone heard about Christina Lee May Kuan. She lived in Kepong last time. I still can recall her face. We were together since primary school. I know her mother well too because she used to wait at the school gate (Convent primary)everyday and whenever I was on duty (was a prefect!) at the gate, her mother would come to me and ask for her. The last time I saw Christina was when she appeared in The Stars many many years ago...I could not remember what year...she was suffering leukimia... and her article was about how she tried to get people to help her out something like that... I did contacted The Stars editorial and managed to get her number... I tried to call her up and no one answered?? I hope she is fine now... If anyone of you out there happens to know what happens to her now...please please let me an update will ya!

What else?? Ehmmm... I am also looking for Jazila Jailer...Beryl would remember her well..she sang well and used to perform in the school concerts. But she left Convent Sentul before form five, because the parents moved to another state/city??

I still do remember Siti Aida Yusof...the last time met her at Norhani Etty's wedding in Gombak..

Azura...the netball expert...no idea where she is?

And know what, I've heard a news years back about one of the 'Mrs Gomez' teacher who had passed away... teacher at the Convent primary school...we had V. Gomez and another one Gomez...don't know which Gomez actually.

These are just some 20 years back of memories that I still keep, visually, luckily my brain works really well at this.

till then...

WHAT'S UP NOW!

It is raining heavily outside..and the time is 11.36p.m. The children have gone to sleep and I am on my computer posting blog entries after a few days off from it.

Haswadi is already away...he sounds very happy over there despite some 'teenee-weenee' little things which are not up to his expectation. We have been 'sms-ing' so plenty times since he left. Of course there are a lot of new things to share...so he's got a lot of stories...

As for me...so far quite okay, even though I still feel a little pain at the ankle due to plenty of movements that I've made these few days. But I am on some tradtional medication...it should be alright, InsyaAllah.

Life now .. the kids sometimes are O.K and at other times are K.O... sabar banyak-banyak aje ni. Kerenah anak-anak yg kadangkala menghiburkan dan boleh jadi mengecewakan!

Counting days??? Yes, I am also counting days to be together with Haswadi or should I say counting days Haswadi will be with all of us (sounds better!) Till then there are just so many things that I am waiting for right now, the approval of my CTG (cuti tanpa gaji) from UiTM Dungun and UiTM Malaysia (HQ). Another thing that I am eager is to know who would be the new coordinator for the B. OSM program.

Anyhow the rain is still pouring outside...the night is getting deeper and darker..

Tomorrow will just be another day ... another usual day for us. Since it has been raining quite a while here in Dungun, I have had no plan or anything for the kids other than watching TV together whenever I have free time... or shall I finish up my story books and let the kids enjoy doing whatever they plan to do tomorrow.

I have my plan too actually. I would love to replace the living room curtain before the Aidiladha.. that means I have to go out and shop!...with the kids? for curtains?? No way!.. I'll have to get the tailor to the house and 'shop' from home..