A Tragedy that Brought Us Together

If asked to name my first impression of my neighbours before 6 December 2008, unhesitatingly it would be that most of them are 'sombong'. 6 December 2008 is a day residents of Bukit Antarabangsa will never forget - that was the day the landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa happened. But for me, one greatest thing came out of the landslide tragedy - it brought the neighbours and I together.

And for the first time after over 7 years staying at Sinaran Ukay Residence, Yazid and I had our neighbours over for breakfast yesterday. There were over 50 people (adults & kids) at my house yesterday morning - enjoying each others' company celebrating the end of Syawal. It was an amazing experience because before the tragedy we don't even speak to our neighbours in the elevators, let alone invade their homes!!

Even though Yazid & I slept for only 2 hours yesterday, the thought of having our friends come over for breakfast at our home made the hours of toiling in the kitchen feel more than worth it. Actually yesterday, the food was secondary when you got to spend times with good company.

As the decision to organise the breakfast get-together was made at a very short notice and with the fact that my maid is still not back from Indonesia, we shortlisted the original invitation list to only very close neighbours. However both of us admitted that it should not be the way next year as Hari Raya open house should be the occasion when we showcase the unique inter-ethnic diversity in Malaysia.

The landslide tragedy really opened up opportunities for us to open up with one another. I also realised that my neighbours and I are human beings trying to share space together in this small neighbourhood. What I also know is that Islam urges kind and considerate treatment towards our neighbours. I am also sure that all religions place great emphasis on the solidarity of families, neighbours and the wider community.

Therefore we should spare our neighbours our harsh tongue and watch each others' boundaries. Respect, tolerance, generous and forgiveness - these are the qualities that should be shown to our neighbours. If you posses these real qualities, it demonstrates to people the standard of your moral values and positive manners.

To all my neighbours, I look forward to many more fine years ahead.

My 2 Cents on Permatang Pasir

"BN To Study Causes of Defeat in Permatang Pasir - Najib"

"Pengundi Permatang Pasir Tidak Mahukan Perubahan - Muhyiddin"

These are the 2 headlines on TheStarOnline and Bernama.com today.

One of the reasons mentioned by both our PM and DPM was character assassination by PAS. Come on!! Please don't talk about character assassination when BN all along has been using this tactic to gain political power. Everybody in politics will jump at the opportunity to ruin the reputations of their opponents on hearing an integrity/moral issue. Dr. M, Nik Aziz, Anwar Ibrahim, Hadi Awang, Khalid Ibrahim, Khir Toyo - the dirty game is played by both sides. DAP is another matter because that is one of their core values set by Lim Kit Siang & Karpal Singh.

I don't need time like Najib to study why BN failed again. For me the major mistake which BN did was to choose Rohaizat as the candidate. Rohaizat was a very poor choice of candidate - it conveyed to the voters the impression that BN is full of corrupt leaders. Don't tell me that BN didn't cover the bases - vet the candidate's background!! How could BN choose somebody who was guilty of abusing funds entrusted to him (as indicated by the BAR Council) for the rakyat to vote. So instead of speaking on changes/developments that BN could bring to Permatang Pasir during the campaign period, the BN campaigners had to vigorously defending Rohaizat. To BN's campaign strategists - what a 'brilliant' campaign strategy!!

It seems like the new PM has also not learned anything from the bitter lessons learned the hard way by the previous PM. As for me, I don't really have much faith in our politicians, be it the oppositions or BN. Our country is indeed in grief and mortal danger in the hands of these SHALLOW MINDED, INTELLECTUALLY-CHALLENGED and CORRUPTED people.

My advice to Najib - "Character counts!! In Malaysia's political scenario today, it counts more than the politicians' IQs."

God Might Have Different Plan For Us

Just seeing so many people passing away in these few months (neighbour, relatives, public figures, schoolmates, etc) make me realised that each day that we live is a gift from God. None of us should take that gift for granted.

I am as guilty as anyone (maybe the most). I'm sure that the list of other things that we take for granted in our lives is long, if we were to list them down - health, family, friends,etc. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all those people that matters to you know that you love them? Tell your husband, wife, children, parents, brothers, sisters & friends that you love them at every opportunity you get. Make a special effort to show what they mean to you. It doesn't have to be time consuming - a phone call, an email, a birthday wish, a small gift, an SMS, etc

God might have a different plan for us so don't take for granted what we have in life today. Love, family, health & friends are to be cherished. Just in case, I LOVE YOU ALL!!

And to all my Muslim friends, wishing you all a blessed Ramadhan - filled with prayers, thankfulness, joy and may the blessings of Allah shower on all of you. Mintak maaf kalau ada silap & salah, terkasar bahasa atau tersinggung perasaan.

'Now Everyone Can Fly' - Albeit Not On Time....

If all of you are not already aware, AirAsia services are sucks to the maximum. Of course I don't expect 5-star services from AirAsia but lowering cost should not imply lowering standards. I could write a book on those horrible experiences I had flying with AirAsia.

At the moment, I am really annoyed with AirAsia. Not once, but several instances of my flights with AirAsia had been delayed. From my experience, rarely do the planes take off on time. AirAsia is definitely not reliable - if you are travelling for business meeting, be ready to apologise to your clients.

It is not fair that AirAsia has the right to delay/cancel flights at short notice or without notice but passengers are not refunded. What about the other costs incurred by the passengers as a result of AirAsia’s inefficiency? Is this not a case of unethical operating procedures? If you want to change your travel itinerary less than 48 hours, too bad - you buy a new ticket. But sometimes it's not our fault that we need to revise our trip because AirAsia reschedules its flights less than 48 hours. Can AirAsia say that if their passengers are unhappy over their flight cancellation/delays, their airfares can be refunded? There must also be a liability factor for a service provider that change its flight schedules to its whim and fancy.

As a customer, I feel cheated and I think that we must exercise our legal rights against such unfair business practises. I will call upon the regulatory bodies/consumer associations to check the rampant abuse of customers by AirAsia. They seem to be trampling on consumer rights and are taking everyone for a ride.

No doubt that since AirAsia started its operations, it has been giving MAS serious competition. This kind of competition is healthy for Malaysians as we get better rates. With cheaper air travel, more budget travellers like me can get the opportunity to explore a lot of exotic places which are previously limited by expensive air travel.

However, Tony Fernandez is so engrossed with his plans to capture the world that he forgets to tell his team to do the basics right - get the passengers to their destinations on time - every time!! Oh!! Another area which Tony has overlooked is the communications skills of his employees. Some of the flight & ground crew can't even speak English correctly, which is very embarrassing for a global player like AirAsia.

I am just a poor passenger writing this after my flight to Bangkok was rescheduled 2 days ago. I have no option but will still be travelling with AirAsia until March 2010.

Cyber Kids

I'm not sure about other parents but I'm fighting for my kids' attention and losing out to technology. The computer, iPods, mobile phones, playstations are a constant companion for most of our children across Malaysia.

Even though I have a 'contract' with each of them, it is sometimes still difficult to get everybody to join in the family activity or even to watch a movie together at home. Further more my eldest son has shown signs that he is not happy with my controlling manner. I expect my kids to abide by the 'contract' - break the 'contract' and all the gadgets are switched off.

And for me, I would rather have them outside the house with some physical activities to enjoy e.g at the swimming pool, at the gym or at the football field instead of safely tuck in their bedroom with the computer. With social networking sites, blogs, chat rooms, online gaming and much more, the internet is actually like an open window to a dangerous world if we don't know how to manage our kids' computer usage.

I read in a magazine recently that computers can seriously threaten a child's psychological development - it can lure children to the world they are not equipped to handle - if a child is communicating one way, that is, through the keyboard, their brain cells will wither and die.

Whatever it is, at the moment, I have to take control of the gadgets - it's not a right, it's a privilege! It's also a dilemma for me hahaha. Tips anyone?

Yasmin Ahmad - Gone Too Soon

I don’t know Yasmin Ahmad personally but I admire her works and I really feel the loss. Actually, Malaysia has lost one great personality with brilliant talents. Her beautiful films and advertisements amazed me. She was like a bright light to our film industry.

Just as there will never be another P.Ramlee, there will never be anyone comparable to Yasmin Ahmad.

Her creativity will surely be missed!!

Al-fatihah.

The Great Debate

Due to some logic-challenged & spineless politicians, the Science and Maths subjects will be taught in Bahasa Malaysia in 2012. As a parent, it was a very sad day for me when I heard the news. As much as I support the using of English to be continued, actually there's no point in arguing the decision made by the Government.

Nevertheless, for me, parents are still the first teachers. The ways in which we orientate our children towards the world and learning are so vital. Therefore for someone who doesn't has extra money to send the kids to Alice Smith or Garden International, it's critical that I now put in the extra efforts to help them improve their English. As English is not the native language in my family, I have all these years reinforced the importance of learning English. I am sure as mothers, all of us have our own ways in bringing out the best in our kids. There is plenty that parents can do at home to help kids get more out of school. However, it can be a bit/very difficult if both parents are working.

But one thing for sure, the lack of competence in speaking and writing in English is a reason that will deter our children to excel in the competitive world of tomorrow. A limited English proficiency will handicap the kids academically, socially and emotionally (lack of self confidence). Advantages of getting good occupation are remarkable if the degree your children has is accompanied with good English proficiency.

Government has also lately been promoting human capital development. Obviously the sources of Malaysian's human capital are our children today. The shortcomings of Malaysia's education system can be seen in the share of scientists, engineers, doctors in its population. Malaysia is lagged far behind Korea, Taiwan and Singapore.

However, if the teachers in the national schools are less than proficient in English as well as other subjects, the quality of teaching has been compromised and the Government ought to do something about it - QUICKLY!! Please get the basics right first before you talk about bigger issues such as human capital!!

Show Respect and Consideration to Your Neighbours

I live in a low-density condominium in Bukit Antarabangsa for the past 7 over years. With the DUKE recently opened and the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (AKLEH), KL city centre is just few minutes away. Few weeks ago, we got our newly completed mosque and everybody is looking forward to Ramadhan. All these with its existing charms (minus the landslide of course!!) make Sinaran Ukay a charming community to live in. And over the years, I have made many good friends among my neighbours. We all live in harmony without interference, intrusion and I would say that most of them have good 'neighbourhood manners'.

However late last year, there was this couple who moved into one of the penthouse units on level 9 - and so fast they have conflict with the Chairman of the Joint Management Body (JMB). It got out-of-hand recently when this couple went house-to-house to convince people that the Chairman has mismanaged the sinking fund (a pool of money set aside to pay for major works). Talking, without solid proofs to back their allegations, for some of us is just bad-mouthing. Therefore Yazid and I decided to ignore them.

2 days ago we had a small get-together at one of my neighbour's house. Few of my friends who were there told me about the lies the new neighbour has been spreading about me and Yazid. I called up few other good friends and it's the same story. Therefore I decided to write her a letter, just in case if I need a black and white if things turn ugly. I last wrote Yazid a love letter in the 90's - I hope I haven't lost the touch hehehe - so read on!

"Dear Kak N,

I’m following with much interest the issues of ‘mismanagement’ (as claimed by you) that have been going on in Sinaran Ukay. However, let me tell you that your comments to few of our neighbours about me not being trustworthy (just because my husband; Yazid is in the sub-committee) and Yazid as one of the contractors who has gained personal interest from the management, are hurtful and cruel. It’s not good-hearted teasing Kak N, it’s malicious!

You came to my house several times and I welcomed you with open minds. While you are welcome to your opinion, I don’t agree with the ways you handle the issues. Just because I don’t buy into your ‘drama’, it doesn’t mean that you can talk bad behind my back or blame me.

As a friend and as somebody who has been staying here since March 2002 (therefore I know more people than you do), these are my advices to you which obviously you didn’t gain during your 20 over years working as a journalist:-

1. Until you know/have the facts, please don’t gossip about me/other people. You have a tendency to go off at the mouth when talking about people so please do something about it.

2. Do not keep on complaining – take charge of the issues, think of different ways to turn those negatives into positives. And instigating people is definitely not one of the ways!

3. Rather than criticizing K/other people, why don’t you make polite request – even if you are right. Making a request, rather than a demand, make it easier for people to acknowledge your point. You will get a far more positive response while still making your point.

4. You moan about the same thing incessantly. You are now draining people emotionally and they don’t respect you. While I care, I just don’t want to go over that topic anymore. You need to tackle the situation but please speak with kindness – without making anybody wrong!

5. Please line yourself up to never be right in any discussions or argument – fight fair! Show other people the same consideration you wish to have in return – it will make a difference to the way people think of you.

Thank you."

There is an old saying, "an Englishman's home is his castle" - so it is the same to me - I expect to live in peace in it!! However I doubt she will change just because of my letter - hahahaha! Any thoughts?

Dragon Lady? Mommy Monster?

When someone you have known for so long describes you in a way you least expect, it’s a strange feeling. But that’s exactly what happened to me recently – in this case, it’s my husband; Yazid who said I was harsh with our children.

I was really angry – no – maybe frustrated because I never realized what a dragon lady I was. I kept ribbing him saying: ‘Come on, I wasn’t that bad! Was I?’ and this only encouraged him even more.

However when I think back, he’s right. I never realised how terrible it must have sounded to others when I had to discipline my children anywhere I was/they were. For Yazid, it’s a big NO-NO to discipline the children if our family members are around but not for me.

To be consistent, I have to reinforce boundaries no matter where or who is around. And I think part of the reason my children are such good kids today is because they have been given behaviour boundaries. I have always encouraged them to know the difference between right and wrong. I taught them that there’s a consequence for every action. I rarely cane them. I have their favourite past times list. So every time they forget their boundaries, they will do without one favourite past time for a week.

Yet no matter how bad I sounded in those early years (I still am today, although I very rarely need to reign in their behaviour), we are all enjoying the benefits now. I am able to take my children (except for the little one) anywhere and know that they will behave. They constantly hear feedback from guests, friends and family about what fantastic children they are. And it’s great to see the sense of pride they get when complimented.

Even funnier, 2 days ago they came back from the swimming pool and told me about a mischievous behavior of a neighbour’s son – I was as proud as punch that they recognized his bad behavior and even commented that they were glad they were not like that.

Dragon Lady? Mommy Monster? No, I am just a mother who wants her 4 children to grow up happy, respectful and be well-behaved individuals. So even though I admit to being a bit of disciplinarian at times, I know they realize it’s been worth it. It may not last forever (with all the social illnesses in this world, I am really scared), but I will be encouraging them to do the right thing as long as I can!

Speak with Kindness - without making anyone wrong

I read with much interest the comments by Dr Lo’Lo’ Ghazali on a proposal made by PAS to declare Sister in Islam (SIS) as haram as well as the issues of female reporters not covering their heads when attending PAS general assembly last week. In a male-dominated party, Dr. Lo’Lo’s sensible and brilliant comments put her male colleagues who are narrow minded and talked with no strong basis to shame.

Funny, I always thought that Islam prohibited extremism and radicalism. PAS should behave in mature manner particularly in dealings with women’s issues. Extremism and radicalism must be condemned as for me they are among few root causes of terrorism. We don’t want our country turning into another Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Imagine if PAS members who are Muslims and are the minority in non-Muslim countries, I am sure they do appreciate their freedom to practice their beliefs and not forced to follow other faiths.

To PAS, why do you have to be unjust and tarnish the good name of Islam? Islam’s image has been blemished lately; let us not get overzealous about these petty issues. For the sake of uniting this fast dividing country, ditch that narrow mentality so as not to taint people’s views on us. Respect the diversity that exists in this country.

‘Other races, religions and cultures deserve our respect. If you hear a slur or bigoted remark, do not join in. Stand up for equality.’ – it’s written in a book brought home by my daughter yesterday from her “You’ve Got Respectful Manners” class. And it’s written by a Christian lady.

You Want It, So Do It!!

I recently bumped into my ex-classmate whom I haven’t seen since we left ITM. She is now doing very well in a multi-national corporation. In fact she’s heading the marketing department of her company. Of course I’m happy for her – yes genuinely happy for her.

But while driving home, there was a tiny twinge of envy – overpowered by an ‘I wish I could be like her’ – but quickly followed by ‘but I probably never will’. To be honest, I have made so many mistakes in my life. But I learned from my failures and happy with what I am now. I am definitely not rich, I don’t have a degree, I don’t live in a big house, I don’t drive expensive car but somehow I am happy – happy that I have a happy family, I am surrounded by so many good friends, I get to do what I enjoy doing, and many more…………..and I thank God for that.

Again and again I always share my stories with my kids especially my 2 elder boys – how I picked up myself and tried my best - with no degree in hand, that’s the best I could do. Sometimes I regretted my actions for not pursuing my studies. But I told them that the reality is ‘You can do whatever you set your mind to’. Sure, they may have failed a thousand times before but that doesn’t mean they will fail a thousand more. Betul tak?! No one single person can say they have never made a mistake. Imagine how many times Mahathir came up with policies that went nowhere. Imagine how many times Anwar Ibrahim’s plan to become PM ended up in bits and pieces. (hehehe sempat jugak nak cakap pasal politik)

I always encourage my kids not to dwell on the past but look to the future – it’s all that they have and it’s filled with unlimited potential. They have to try – they may fail – they may fall – they may take the wrong turn. My advice, just double back and try again and again until they get to where it is they want to be. And I believe that with God’s help, one day things will fall into place. Never ever give up!!

My children know that I don’t like to hear them complaining about the same things over and over again. I always tell them, before they complain about their friends or about those science/maths subjects that are difficult – why not change the way they look at problem/things – that obstacles are simply challenges from God for them to be a better person – for them to do things differently – an opportunity for them to succeed.

Insya’allah.

Thai-rific!!

This entry is long overdue hehehe – I should be more discipline with myself in updating this blog.

Connie and I got back from Bangkok almost 2 weeks ago. It’s not our first trip (this is the place that we consistently return to since we first came in 2004) so no more temple visiting, city tour, elephant ride, floating market, tiger show, gems factory, etc.

We reached Bangkok on Wed, 29 April at about 12.30pm with empty baggage. We took a cab from the departure hall on level 4 to our hotel. You can save about THB200 (RM20) by not purchasing a coupon at the arrival hall. Not sure if it’s the economic downturn, the political uncertainty or the swine flu, but we could feel that there were less people everywhere. Even the traffic was smooth.

As the trip was purely for shopping, we therefore based ourselves in Pratunam; an area well known for its wholesale market. The town won’t amaze you; however everything is ridiculously cheap here!! We checked into Khurana Inn; a budget hotel run by an Indian Muslim. For those on budget, you will simply love the hotel because your shopping experience starts right outside the hotel door. And for me, it’s the halal food that they serve.

Our first stop was the Platinum Mall; the largest wholesale shopping complex in Thailand and spent about 5 hours there. From the hotel, you need to walk more than 20 minutes under the hot sun and the crowded small lanes – and yes, no more tuk-tuk driven Lewis Hamilton-styled for me to go anywhere. For those who have not been to this mall, it’s highly recommended. But be prepared with a good walking shoes and stamina to cover every nook and cranny for good bargain. A day is not sufficient to cover all 5 floors. However you have to buy at least 3 pieces to get the wholesale price or pay a retail price if you buy only a piece. If you are looking for clothing, then Platinum Mall is much more convenient compared to Chatuchak Weekend Market.

Dinner for both nights was buffet style - in the room!! We bought ikan, udang, sotong bakar and the not-to-be-missed mango with sticky rice and corn with coconut from the curbside stalls. Be warned however, that it is not recommended for those with delicate stomachs.

If you want to help improving the life of sex workers in Bangkok, you can visit Pat Pong in the evening. This area is famous for its notorious nightlife. Since we both are not party girls plus we already went there before; we decided to give our legs the rest they deserved. To unwind, we paid THB500 – Connie opted for full body massage and I had head and shoulder massage. After one hour of massage, it was really difficult trying to stay awake.

As it’s my routine to wake up at 5.45am everyday, it’s the same in Bangkok. I woke up at about 4.30am (Bangkok is one hour behind us) and Connie chased me out of the room as my twisting & turning had disturbed her sleep. Another plus point, this hotel provides free internet services but you have to go down to the lobby. Connie only came down at 7am. First we helped improve Bangkok’s economy by spending a fair bit at the morning market which is vibrant, noisy but great fun. Remember to smile when bargaining but things are dirt cheap here that you will feel guilty to bargain too much unless you are an Arab hehehe

We had our breakfast at Sky Restaurant located on the 43rd floor of Baiyoke Suite. Come here for the view – food is just OK. After that, we were off again to Platinum Mall for another 5 hours of non-stop shopping.

On the second day we also went to Indra Square, Baiyoke Garment Centre and Pratunam City Centre. That night, we also went to Suan Lum Night Bazaar. This place is not ideal for shopping as the prices here are twice what you can get in Platinum Mall. However the 2 great features of this night market are the open-air food court with live entertainment as well as the many hip restaurants on the quieter side – a cool place to hang out at night.

On Fri, 1 May we had breakfast at the hotel before venturing into the morning market again and off to Platinum Mall – yes again! At noon, we walked back to the hotel – packed our things – freshen up and checked out. We left our baggage at the reception and went to Nice World Spa – had our hair washed + manicure & pedicure for RM50 each. Yes, only RM50 – very cheap!! We had lunch at Black Canyon Coffee which serves the best iced coffee.

It’s only 2pm and we could do some last minute shopping but we didn’t have anymore space to carry anything back. We decided to go to the airport to see if we could change our flight to an earlier one. Though Connie & I are ‘Air Asia Frequent Passengers’, we just got to know that to make any changes, it has to be more than 48 hours before your actual flight.

People who know me well will know that I’m not the person who can sit for hours without doing anything. I walked to a few bookshops but the magazines such as Australian Women’s Weekly, New Idea, Woman’s Day, Hello, etc are cost almost 100% higher compared to KL. And to our disappointment, we could not find a single internet terminal or even an internet café at Suvarnabhumi Airport. For this, I must commend Singapore Changi Airport which provides free internet terminal for its passengers located at the waiting hall. Not sure if KLIA has these services though.

As we could not checked in until 6.00pm, we had no choice but to wait. We sat from 3pm to 6pm – checked in, had our dinner @ a Japanese Restaurant – and we sat again, waiting for our flight @ 8.20pm. It was the most uncomfortable period for me and my back complained for over a week later.

However, all in all, it was an escape that didn’t break the bank so we are set to come back in December this year.

My Hobby, My Friends & I

I was clueless on the topic to write as my first article until I met a neighbour this morning who didn't make me feel guilty at all with her remarks. To cut the story short, her comments were centered on my passion for travelling with my friends.

As a busy mum of 4 kids, I believe that I owe it to myself to be happy. I am sure, most mothers will agree with me – it is all about timing and juggling your schedule. I am proud with myself with how much I do for my family every day. Therefore, I really don’t have those guilty pangs when I take a few hours every month to go out with my friends or when I take a few days every 2 or 3 months to travel, either alone or with friends.

Travel
It is always good to be away for a while.

I cherish my ‘me time’ pounding the pavement of cluttered Pratunam’s morning market in Bangkok. I enjoy the laidback charm of scenic Ubud in Bali. I also love the retail therapy in noisy Mangga Dua in Jakarta. And to tell the truth, my kids and husband benefit a happier, less-stressed mummy/wife. Or is it the new baju & shoes that they enjoy most?

Most of the times, I travel alone but travelling is more fun if you can find a buddy. In my case, it’s my best friend Connie whom I got to know while working in Standard Chartered Bank. Through the trips we made since 2004, Connie & I developed a real friendship and camaraderie. Now, we both make it a point to travel together at least 3 times a year. Thus far in 2009, we were in Jakarta last March during my birthday and we will be travelling again next Wednesday. We are still negotiating on the date and destination of our third trip this year.

Friends
Life is too short – marriage and children should never be a deterrent to forging friendship.

With work, family matters to attend to and those never-ending bickering of my 4 demanding kids, it can be very difficult to find time to catch up with good friends. But if you don’t regularly check in with them, your friends won’t stay good friends for long. While my family is very important to me, my friends are the ones who keep me sane.

A fabulous way to keep a smile firmly fixed on my face is to gather with my friends. At least once a week, I must have breakfast with my breakfast ‘kaki’ i.e. Connie, Aida & Sharon. It’s not expensive of course as it is always at the Hilton Corner @ Cosway but it’s a great way to catch up with them. Once in a while, I go out with few girlfriends for dinner. For some people, they prefer to be home early after work. But I will never feel too tired to grab a dinner with my good friends in favour of getting home early on Friday to relax. Feeling tired the next day for me is a small price to pay for nurturing friendship. After all, it is not every week – just once a month!

However with Facebook, I’m glad that I found friends from the past – old friends from secondary school in Ipoh and ITM Shah Alam, friends I lost track when they moved overseas, friends from my temporary job, my childhood friends – people from the past who were very special to me, and could well be again! I’m sure that we still have things in common. And for that reason, I’m really looking forward to spending times with my friends - Aida, Liza, Joe, Min, Jas and of course my partner-in-crime; Connie when we travel this year as we have planned.

To all my friends, thanks so much for the friendship - all of you are very special to me. And to Yazid and my four kids; Daniel, Faris, Lia and Sara – thanks for your support, understanding and patience (patience?! eh! terbalik dah ni) – I love you all so much.