I'm back!!!! Its not too late! ^_^

Welll, helllewwwwwwwww.. Long time no see ya?

It been a busy year.. both happy and frustrating. But how’s everyone doing? Any updates to share? Everyone seems to be using their Facebook more often but as time passes, I kinda missed blogging. It feels with blogging, you're able to express yourself more...with or wihtout pictures. Its high time to continue!

I have just finished my exams but I have not finished going through my college assignments. At the same time I have work assignments which we are going against time to get it out as according to the time plan. It’s hectic and I must admit I am lost. I only pray someone would come in and save us towards success. Until that time comes, everyone of us will have to fight hard against the strong mean currents splashing in our way. It’s hard..Its tiring but insyallah, Allah will constantly give us strength and guide us.

Just a bit of pictures to share .. I have below pictures taken with friends I've made when Myself and Aziz were involved in the GID migration Project in BSP. We've gotten close and have been going out on yearly Ramahdan gatherings and I am looking forward for more in the future. It's nice to meet up with them once in a while. The last time I saw Roza, she was 5 months preggie. I think she's given birth by now. (child number 3) ^_^

Urghhh.. I dun like my hair here! wait..wait... I dun like my hair now either!

Lawa (awuu..aku prasaan) People..we make a good team..

(Now you know what I mean right by prasaan?)

The whole gang..I love these people..

Owh I too have pictures to share of Christmas dinner in which I took my family out for at Ligong, Empire. That was fantastic night. The snow show ( abit disappointing when the ‘snow’ were in fact actually bubbles) did excite the kids abit. And owh, my boys have turned 1 and 3 this years. Allah bless them as they have made our lives so much happier. I couldn’t ask for more.And yes, I am still studying part time. I’ve completed my 2nd year and next year shall be my last.

I hope 2010 brings us more success and happiness. I’m sure its going to be a whole new ride of adventures and dramas.

I say bring it on 2010!!.. And yes, I will make all efforts to continue blogging despite the fact that I’m always busy. Who isnt these days? This writing stuff one of the few activities keeping me sane. I’ve encourage for Effy to continue her blog as well. Oh, yeah.. She’s off to continue her Degree in OZ next year!!! What fun! Definitely going to visit her there and my 2nd trip after that, with God’s will, to attend her actual graduation. I am looking forward to her success definitely. All of our success as well ;o)

Two more days to go before the new year starts! I shall be posting pic highligthing exciting events we had with families and friends soon.

Until next time… PattyLicious signs off

Bee-Outch

Pattylicious Donated Blood.. for the first time!

Hei! Another quick update on my very busy month!

The office had a Blood Donation drive and I had to join it! I always wanted to do one ever since I knew donating blood was also a good way to detoxify your body!

It was my first time and boy was I nervous! But after the whole process, I didn't really passed out so I think I did pretty well for a first-timer.

Enjoy the pics! Can’t write much as work and school calls for me!

I was nervous as you can tell.. sakit lah!

but as you know, PattyLicious always have the time to pose for a good shot ;p

Haji lani ( one of the big bosses ) posing - konon macam Good Samatarian helping out lah. He's hilarious! haha

until next time,

Bee-Outch!

UFO? Flying Black Magic Eggs? Army shoting Flares? Hmmmm...

O my...

What a busy month! Work piling up! Project scope growing bigger, working on weekends, the stress is so unbelievable! This is the moment where I feel I'm actually drowning in work. If anyone has tips on time-management, you're most welcome to share it with me because I'm struggling.

But a bit of distraction.. Has anyone read the papers about those UFO Sigthings in Lumut? Interesting eh? Several arguements suggested that it could have been flares shot by the army (with the Lumut Battalion close by) but surely how could flares stay up that long and move about in air when the only logic explaination is that anything that goes up will come down eventually ( gravity hello? )... and not disappear in thin air? Some even argued it was Doreamon in action lah.. Dragonball lah... Aliens salah landing lah which I have to say, the comments in YouTube really cracked me up! hahahha

My theory - Perhaps its black magic in the process. Ngam tia kedapatan oleh anak ani with his mobile phone. You know those myth about flying eggs send by people to perform their evil deeds kind of thing? I think I back that one up. (doesn't mean I'm right) I mean Black magic do exist and this kid just happen to video it.

All things come from Allah and only he knows what those lights actually are. As for us and the rest of the world, we can only imagine and speculate. (but its exciting isnt it?)

Owh and guess what... its on Youtube! Enjoy!

p/s-Interesting that this had to happened when the movie 'District 9' is coming on this 13th! lol!

Bee-outch..

On Hiatus!

I know! I owe you updates but things have been very busy lately and its getting busier! I'm trying my best to balance everything!

Will update once I've got rid of my main priorities!

Until then,

Bee-outch!

First mini outing with the family.... with my new toy!

Weeeeeee! This new toy is so much fun!

We had to learn how to use the camera and tadaaaa, below are some of our first works. I say 'some' because these pictures were taken by both my husband and I. We're new in this so take it easy on the critics ya? Enjoy!

I took this pic! *bangga*

and this too! heheheh

Me and one of our neighbour's kid. Poor boy had only his boxes on!

I know.. I'm such a camwhore for a mum.

note to remember - pls powder face. Damn oily after 4 o'clock.

I love this!

And thats about it for now. SO how did i do? *blush*

My 2nd assignment was taking pictures of the band rehearsing just few ahours ago. It was for the launching of the new Volkswagen Gulf ( and it's one cool car!) at Maju Motors. I hope I did well with the pics. Will post that soon either in facebook or here. Which reminds me, I have to get started on the Studio's new blog!.

Until next time,

Bee-Outch!

Dream.. Dream...Dreeeeeeam...

*Phewiiiiiiiiit!*

Looks like a good mate of mine will be heading out to the world to pursue her degree! (Congrats GroudBeef!) I'm so excited for her! Another world of a learning adventure. A whole new environment. Wow. I dream of having that opportunity one day...(Amin!)

Having said that, I sat down with my hubby on a early saturday morning, sipping my ice-blended Mocha at the BSP headquarter telling him of the good news. I told him of my dreams to pursue one in the future. I'll wait until we're financially stable and the kids are grown up, where I'll explain to them and they would understand and support me. I told him that I hope the children will learn through me that God gives chances to those who wants it ( please ah.. if you want something better, you have to work hard for it. We all should know that. Money or luck doesnt just grow on trees ) anyone is never to old or have excuses to gain knowledge. Knowledge is everything! Even to learn Jawi and read the Quran is knowledge! I pray that one day I will master that. To remember and learn how to read every doa and Quran. ^_^ Amin amin amin.

Everytime I sit with Aziz and Rizal, hear them talk and discuss work at their level, I feel more inspired to do what they do and learn through their achievements. And boy, am I lucky to have such mentors! These boys are my tools of learning. I really appreciate having motivating and inspiring friends around. These people do wonders to you with their positive energy. I am blessed to meet these people. Alhamdullilah.

You out there. How did you do it?!?! I salute you for going that far! ( Please control hidung sikit ah ) hehehe..

However, to me its just a dream. I still strongly believe if it doesn't work out, its not meant to be for me... YET. I will just have to accept it with a pinch of salt and move on. I'm sure god has better plans for me. This doesnt mean that I have to give up on pursuing a degree. I just have to focus on something else first. Its God's way of telling me that I have other priorities to look into first :o)

Still no harm in dreaming right? ;)

until next time,

Bee-Outch.

Transformers.. THEY ROCK!!

The first movie rocked.

The second for me rocked even harder. (Despite what hardcore Transformer fans say!)

I went to watch the movie for the 2nd time again tonite but with the husband when my first watch was with the girls. And I still enjoyed the movie! This time I was paying attention to the details of the movie which I think I've missed. Here are my own personal finds ( in which I'm sure you had come acrossed too!) ^_^

1. Twin Autobots - The red car ear's points down and the green one's points up!
- Also they each have gold front tooth.

2. At Robowarrior's secret room while they decended his stairs, I think it was Sam who said " Eiuu..dead pigs? Swine Flu!"

3. And the flying goat which got sucked in by Devastator. I had to get that goat scene coz both Fel and Shikin were talking about when all I saw was flying chickens. LOL.

Whatever it is,no amount of time and production can fully potray any good anime series or book. However, I do appreciate the amount of work, effort & talent done to put together a movie in a first place! I say this because my hubby was complaining how dissapointed he was when he saw Devastator and commented how Optimus Prime's voice in the 2nd movie sounded different.

Hmmm could it be? His voice different?

I googled and youtube'd. I found something else though and I do not know whether it answers the question on if he is the same guy who voiced in Transformers 2. Regardless its cool to know he's the same guy who voiced Optimus Prime in the cartoon series. For real!

*Goosebumps*

Peter Cullen. You rock as Optimus Prime!



Original 1980's Cartoon theme! Wuhuuuuu!



Till next time hunez.. AUTOBOTS, TRANSFORM AND ROLL OUT!

EXAMS DAH ABIS!

Yeahuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

Exams are all done and over with!!!

More time with family!
More time on TV!
More time reading novels!
More time to date with Hubby!

No more 8 cups of coffee in a day!

No more sleepless nites!

No more reciting formulas in sleep which annoyed the baby because it kept waking him up!

No more "Sorry sayang, I need to study. I will make up to you when all of this finish" lines!

Hi Pattylicious! how have you been? Hows the exams?
Man, 5 modules for exams in a month is no easy thing especially when you have only from Fridays to Sundays to study on each subject! Not to mention, children and husband who need your undivided attention!

To share my lesson learnt in time management:

1. Do what's considered as a prriority 1st - e.g Spending time with the kids & hubby, cooking for the family. A true scenario for me - Law exams was on that very day which involved alot of memorizing. I was panicing because I was entertaining so much on family, I was constantly worried about having sufficient time to study. But I kept telling myself that no matter what families comes first as well as your responsibilities as a wife and a mother. (This will link to lesson number:2)

2. Sharing is caring - I have omitted "Kiasu" since being a Muslim as to share knowledge with others, you will only gain more knowlegde in return". This is so true when I called for a locked classroom to be opened for revision purposes prior to the exams ( the school had kept all classrooms locked so that student cant do funnt things like writing answers on the tables or what have you). The chapters which I revised with my college mates in last 30 minutes before the exams came out! Talk about Hikmah man! Alhamdullilah!

3. Knowing when to indentify and accept help - All that has happened in the whole month of my exams, Allah has showed me little miracles thorugh his little nudges and I am blessed to have that from him.

Examples - the moral support of my family and even at work has been amazing. I was given study leaves (and there I was worried about not having enough leaves to take for my next semester exams) which contributed ample time for me to study. I didnt ask for study leaves because I thought I wasnt eligible. Tau2, nah! kana bagi yo! Cool inda?!?!?!

Now that itself, has given me more motivation to succed as well to cherish all forms of support even from work. The team has given me so much support and now, I'm driven to support them even more in return. Forget that " Aku2 -Kau2" bullshit. Positive teamwork gets us anywhere!

So whats next now thats all done?
Assignments! Surveys! Case Studies! Report Writing!
Work!
Blogging!

Well, my hubby has just bought me a DSLR - canon 500D. hehehe *Blush* I can then start on my photography interest and well, there is the studio's blog . I promised myself to work on it for the band members :o). That should be a fun project. I'm hoping that the more I read and write, I will be able to polish up on my writing skills :o)

Call me all spiritual and all, but my instincts had worked most of the time and when I self -reflected at the end of each day, I know deep down all thats happened, happened for a reason. We just have to accept and believe in Allah :o)

And that I end with a prayer that I passed the exams! Amin!

Until next time,

Bee-outch!

A little distraction

I need some time out to distract myself from all these drama at the office and college.. Wanna see a Misus Topeng -Aiman's stail?

Click here for Dena's Creative Work.. (hahaha thanks dang!!!) Tropong like its hot.. hahah classic classic..

Bee-Outch!

Note to self.. EXAMS! EXAMS!

Dear Faithful Readers,

I will be studying for my exams in June. So I wont be posting as much until the exams are over ok? I will be back soooooooooon!

Bee-Outch.

Spore Spore.. I miss youuuuuu...

Helleeeeew..

Oh what a hot day today! Went out at 3pm to pay my credits bills and to avoid the possibility of people waiting behind you while you struggle to press the confusing buttons on the Cash Deposit Machine to pay your card. Alhamdullilah its all done but my goodness, the heat! I could feel it on my face and hands!

How is everyone doing these days? Apologies for the late postings. I have been having tests & the June Exams which is coming up meaning I have to use my available time to revise and also spending time with the family. Its crazy life but still, I have no regrets :o)

Last 2 weeks I was in Spore! Acompanying the hubby while I get my much needed distraction from home. Fikir kan tinggal kan credit card tapi nyasal kang kalau inda beli what I see there nanti... And boooooy, was I right!

I've managed to get some pics of the trip (with my handy mobile phone and yes, Canon 450D is not here yet but soon..soon enough..) until then, bear with the queality of the pictures ya?

Here we are at the Royal Sky Lounge, for Business Class customers. hehehe.. Its my first time here, yatah sakai so I had to take some pics. hehehehe

as you can see, its still pretty quiet up here...

but still I like their ambience. Oh, see that construction thing goin on at the back? Word is that they'll be opening more restaurants. Looking forward to that. It's high time for some upgrades in the airport.

One of the captains (I have forgotten his name) gorging out on the buffet and yes, we pretty much helped our selves to the simple, not many but still delicious buffet they've prepared. Why cant they do that with the food on board?!!? That would make a huge difference!

I was only in singapore for 2 days. Short it was but much needed. I went back to work all freshed up. As you can see, reasons to shopping were mostly for the kids. With brands like GAP & ESPIRIT and toys like LITTLE TIKES especially at a reasonable price after discounts - no could say no to that!

Finally, I bought CROCS for the boys. Decided to try out with these ones for a start.

For adek Arman.

Red Crocs for Abang and bubble gun for Abang too - Turned out it wasnt as impressive as I imagined.. booooooooo!

Baby Gap... Hubby adores the yellow shirt.

Books for me and the hubby (only the camera handbook)...

and thats about it on my documentation trip to Singapore. heheh told you it wasnt much..

As mentioned earlier, I came back to Brunei and then had about 2.5 days to study for my test. The below pictures will show you that every minutes counts in my life (unless I decided to give my brain a rest with Tv, Gym etc etc etc).

This is when I left the office on the actual day of my test. I thought I would pick mum up from her office odw since I was able to make it to Jerudong by 4.30pm.

the must haves in the car - Bottle of water and two slices of Bengawan Solo Pandan Cakes

(which I've managed to tapau from Singapore )

Calculation and revising formulas..

That's life for me. Hope I scored that test!

Bee-outch!

So funny lah.. IDIOT.

Life can be funny. People can be funny. I like funny. I can accept funny.

But there is a fine line between funny and being a complete idiot. I had conversation with a particular individual bah about Mother’s Day.

Me – Heard that you brought your wife out in town last night.

Idiot – Yes, getting her a Mother’s Day Gift.

Me- Cool. What did you get your own mum?

Idiot – umm.. Alum lagi. ~STRIKE ONE~

Me – I see. Me either. I just wished her the best. I thought of bring her out for breakfast though one of these Saturdays.

Idiot – Yea. Me too. I thought of buat makan2 at mum’s.

Me- *silence. Thinking to self- this idiot doesn’t know his own mother kah? She wants to go out!*Continues with conversation - ummmm..Ok. but be sure that if you want to make this makan2 at mum’s, We are to do all the work and clean up. She doesn’t do anything. She’s supposed to relax.

Idiot – Yup. You’re right. ( so ok Idiot. You’re going to so at your mum’s place. You NEVER help up in cooking and cleaning up. Your own siblings even calls you useless ) ~STRIKE 2~

Me- ohhhkaaaaaay.. Btw, mum asked me to join her Mengaji-group.But I decline. I cant do it now. I have so many things to balance out

Idiot-Kenapa? Ok jua tu. She wants you to study. ( Great . Now the idiot tells me he knows him mum well but not well enough what she likes and dumping his kids there for under her care.)

Me- Ummm.. It not that I don’t want to learn how to mengaji. I cant do it now. I have to finish one by one dulu. I need to balance so many things. What’s the point of doing things which will distract you from your duties as a wife and a daughter? Dosa jua. No point bah. Ugama teaches you to also balance your priorities in work, school and family. And btw, if your kids are going to mengaji everdy day, meaning you put your children for the whole entire week? Your mum to care for them the whole week? no family time kah? do they have time to do their homework? Owh, did you did this when you were kids too?

Idiot – Yeaa. You’re right . Lurus tu. Speaking of work, I need to go back to work. Byeee. ~STRIKE 3~

Me- Bye IDIOT.


Bee-Outch..

Sha bu Sha bu.. I like you

Puh -lease.. HotMama dont do drugs and will never do...

Its Sha Bu Sha bu - Steamboat that I fancy going to nowadays! I love their tomyam soup with vegetables stuffed with seafood paste. Yum Yum.. Delicious! By the way, in case you're still wondering then - Click here for a wikipedia definition of Sha bu Sha Bu

Menu wise -They could have offered alot more. I was slightly dissapointed with the menu. Inda banyak vegetables or variaties to order from. And the place could be designed a whole lot better too . It took quite a while to absorb the details of the restaurant and noticed that they had a small kitchen. And they could seriously do something about their uniform as well. Appearance does matter. *Please tie hair properly. Ejap ku masuk sup*

When you do go there, you will know what I mean.

My order is here! I had cuttle balls, fish balls and prawns. The ones with seafood paste were all out. Bummer! Those were my fav! My choice of soup was Tomyam. Hubby 's was curry.

Hubby's set order.

Beef slices. Sliced finely so that it would cook to perfection when you dipped it your boiling soup.

eyuuuuuuuum....

If you're looking for something different and less carbo intake, this is a place to go. But this is something you could prepare at home for your love ones. Hei, this is an idea! Perhaps I could do this for Mother's day! I love soups. Soup-Maniac. Soup Crazy.. Soup Soup Soup.

If I was to travel with my hubby, he would know how excatly to feed me. Plus, I'm "cheap" to eat what?... Thats because I'm clever, I need the extra cash for shopping. wehehehhe..

Oh, which reminds me of my trip this coming 17th & 18th. Cant wait to eat that vegetable curry again! Starbucks. CharKueh tiaw. Etc etc etc... wuuuu cana kan lose weight nieeeee... hehehe

Thanks for the treat sayang. I love being pampered by you .

*kisses*

Bee-Outch

Balik Kampong but not to tanam jagung

Its more of cleaning up your families graves at the um... somewhere in Lamunin..Ukong somewhere ..heheh sorry.. I didnt really pay attention to the road signs. I know.. Lame!

And so we, the Luin Sisters and others proceed on our journey back to a place we have long not gone back to visit ( well, me lah. My sis goes there like once a month basis ehehehe)

Family Members headcount and Items Checklist :

1. Husband - Checked

2. Kids and strapped securely in car -Checked

3. Amah - Checked

4. Lots of snacks and milk for babies in car - Checked

5. Spare of clean clothes - Checked

6. Dvds for kids entertainment - Checked.

Right.

And so we reach my kampong at Bukit Udal where the very people I call family awaits for me. Kampong cooked food - Chicken Curry + Belacan Long Beans + Lemiding + Nasi Kebun waiting for me to enjoy for lunch.

Wasting no time as the usual tradition is to visit the family graves best in the morning, I think its because its cooler and fresher to clean up graves at this time. I think lah. Mana jua ku tau adat2 dusun ani.. I think any villager would tell you that it would be crazy to work in the mid afternoons anyway! ;p

Btw. The kids were looked after by my female cousins and the spouses. The ladies had to cook. But not me and my sis. We're the only ones my late father had. So no excuses for us!

The cuzzy and the hubby. On the front seats as we start our journey to the graveyard.

Family car. As usual, we drove our galant.

We are here. Cars has been here wee in the morning.. (assuming lah)

Sis, cuzzy & hubby. There are also a few cuzzies at the back. Malas ku kan ambil gambar diorang. Did you know my Mama Kampong (my nanny) told her sons this out loud?
" Kalau orang tanya mana bini kamu - bagitahu di rumah memasak"

Well... not really.. some couldnt make it due to work commitments. Knowing the "very-persistant-orang-tua-cannot-accept-excuses" she taught her sons well the power of shutting these people up.

*Am not rude. This is true*

My family's grave is located up the hill.


and we're here! On hubby's left is my late grandad's and next to it its my late father's!

Other family members ( cousin i think 10-20x - cakap melayu bah ;p)


See that chinese tombstone? Its new. The last time we were here last year, it wasnt there. Oh btw, incase you're wondering both my late father and grandad were Free Thinkers.
I think what you have here is a traditional Dusun Tombstone. Hut and all.

And why is it next to a chinese tombstone ( after seeing designated graves for each different religion in other places ) ?

I too have no idea...

I guess some things are better left not asked.



Late Grandad's - You must be wondering what is all that stuff?

As far as I can understand, when someone passes away, its a custom to have their belongings be it their fav bag, clothes, shoes etc be put on top of their grave. I cant share with you on any other reasons bcause I really dont know any other reasons and it would be rude to just share false information or any other reasons.

Nevertheless, I'l be digging more on my dusun culture to why things are done in that way.


Ahem..ahem.. I did my part too..


usai..usai balik... kana suruh kali ah

See that shelltox? Masih dapat pakai. Even use to spray around a couple of times.

My late father's tombstone.

Its been 13 years since his passing and I still miss him dearly.

Clean and tidied up! *proud!*

This part is abit annoying. I cant stand the rubbish! Forgotten to put garbage bags in the list too! Oh we also forgotten to bring parang as well... *geram!*

but we did a good cleaning up anyway. I love my hubby and my sis for their support. Especially my hubby. He never questions anything about my culture. All I get from him is his endless love and support.

*Love you sayang!*

Question - At what age did my grandad died at?

Clean eh? I'm so proud of ourselves. Great Teamwork!

Pics of the other families cleaning up graves. And the cool part is, each of everyone buried here are all related. Related as in brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, 1st cousin etc related!

Everything was done at 11.00 and we went back to my cousin's house. Had a good cold shower, fabulous lunch, mingle with the family. I was so happy and proud that we did what we needed to do. I didnt really took anymore pics after this as we were all too tired.

Abang was..

Oh btw, if anyone reading this knows a bit more on the dusun culture, do share with me ya? Drop me a line anytime. I would appreciate it.

Another adventure..another time..

Bee-Outch.