Bye November, Hello December

From my new laptop. 

Hahaha. Eh I wish I could insert emoticons here. Who knows maybe in 10 years time, emoticons are included even in staid news article. 

I dont think I have raved about my baby. Terrible. I should have update more about him, but maybe I should start now. 

He is gonna be 6 months soon. I had already fed him solid. Eh I know lah. I saw that he is ready and I am only starting once a day baru. He hated avocado, but love the store bought rice cereal for baby. So whatever works! 

Anyway. I think I had mentioned that I had someone who came in during the day to help out with the kids and the chores. She quit after 3 months. I don't think I am that hard of a person to work with, but whatever. I think she found a better paying job and I hope she can keep at it because she is kinda terrible at my work. 

I hate relying on helper or maid. It is just something that I don't like. I don't like strangers in my house. So that means my house is messy and sticky and greasy sometimes. Sigh. With 3 kids I don't know what I am doing because the second after I mopped the floor it is sticky again after the kids had their food and snacks. Sigh. 

Anyway, I was planning to talk about my baby Sarip. He is not a cuddly baby. Meaning that he loves to be carried but hugged when sleeping, not so much. I miss that. Aziz when he was a baby especially loves that. I think he still loves it now because he always seems to be at someone armpit when he sleeps. Now it is brother. 

Sarip also love the new buai. I was thinking that perhaps this time my baby don't need no stinking buai. But how the hell other mother manage to put down their baby to sleep without it, I don't know. My kid will quickly wakes up once we put him down or stop patting him. And once my helper decided to quit, I will waste 2 or 3 hours I can spend cleaning just trying to put him to sleep. Buai it is! 

Other than that, he is the sunniest cheerful baby ever. He loves to smile. He have a hint of a dimple coming in, but not quite come through when he is smiling. In  16 years time girls would go gaga over that. LOL. ( Perasan anak akan jadi idola ramai)

It is now cuti sekolah and I had lost 3 freaking kgs, for I don't know what reason because I keep on reaching for chocolate when I am stressed out. My kids decided to help on one of my sanity chocolates and I almost lost my mind. I totally now I understand what the mother in "Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup" now feels like. 

Stopping now because I have my eye on a book I wanna buy at Betterworldbook. I have no idea why I keep on buying books when I have hardly time to shampoo my hair. 

Here's a picture of Sarip feeling disgusted at the idea of me shoving avocado in his mouth. Your loss Sarip! Mommy totally gonna make herself jus alpukat using your stock of avocados now! 

And hello... I am typing I this from my brand new HP laptop courtesy of my husband gift to me for my 35th birthday. I am 35 right, I am in denial of my age after 33. I am so excited to own a laptop that is my own. Not a loan, and not from work. But my own whatever the hell I am gonna do/install laptop. I wish I can put up a rude wallpaper but I have kids to think about now. 

Its November!

That means birthday month!

For me and Saif. And also our anniversary. Which this year is our 9th anniversary. Which happened to be Saif birthday too.

I am asking for a laptop because I don't spend much time at the computer table. I hope I make good use of the laptop.

Also you know, I should typed a lot more about my darling baby Sharif Dol. His name is Sharif, but we called him Sarip Dol because.. P Ramlee movie la kan.

I had not been typing a lot in a keyboard that I am losing my fast typing skills. Damn. Gotten lazy with smartphone since I used text predictor a lot. Nak spells pon dah lose skills. Damn.

I guess it is true people say that the advent of smartphone is not necessarily a good thing. We depended too much on technology that a lot of our brain left unused or consumed by inane things like reading about how Megan Markle gonna marry Prince Harry for instance.

Anyway. Later!

October comes in ...

and no update in Sept? 

I wonder what I had been doing. ( Eh I know la. Absolutely nothing). 

Anyway, last week we did a sorta belated birthday party for Aziz. 

He was lamenting he wants a party and since he had been a huge help to me and also he is a very nice kid, he deserved a party even if his birthday is 2 months past. 

We invited his classmates and a few of my friends only lah. Decided to do it at my sister clubhouse. A pool party! Because I couldn't be bothered to make up activity for kid. The only activity is main dalam pool je okeh. 

My siblings as usual is a great help with everyone contributing everything from chicken wings to cakes and desserts and main courses. Heh. 

The major thing should be is the kids had fun... and judging from 1 kid shouting " I am having so much fun!!" I guess it wasn't so shabby. 

Though I am not keen in repeating this again. I even pulled my muscle the day before and that hampers my enjoyment and preparation a bit. 

A video and I took only 2 photos kut! LOL!

Aziz very much enjoyed it and he was overjoyed on the presents he received. He was even nice enough to give one or two present to his brother. 

Just some update. Nothing much

Feels like rambling abit. Kesian this blog is hidup segan mati tak mahu. With Twitter, IG and FB where 'micro blogging' is easier, trying to typed out few paragraphs is like a major efforts. But I should write more.

Day to day.
I feel like meh. I was typing the previous words and got distracted by cat videos. That is my life now. With the occasional giving foods to my kids.

And I started this about a week ago and havent yet finish. Like what!

Anyway I really should not have any reason to procrastinate. I have a helper around the house. She came in from 8 and goes back at 5 or 6. So I don't have to clean or mop and somebody is around to look after the kids during the afternoon which let me have a lying in session with the baby. I want to say nap, but like I said before. I don't sleep during the daytime unless very very tired or sick.

Then start from 6pm things get a little hectic. Feed the kids and wash the dishes. Easy on paper, but sometimes the baby refuse to cooperate. Used to be he will be asleep, but nowadays the littlest one would throw the most tantrumest tantrum from 6.30pm til 8pm. I think I am slightly losing weight due to his particular hour only.

After the kids are all asleep then I have 1 hour to myself. Ah yes. I don't think so I can cope with the housework if I am working, but who knows. Many had make it worked, and if people ask like before how I can cope with 3 kids, you will find a way lah to make it work. It is not like I can give the kids away. D'oh.


I honestly have no ideas what to type more. Eh I will get back to it lah. Also am planning for a holiday in Penang soon. Yeay!

Big Little Lies

Have you watched the series? It was magnificent. Anyway I feel like I am gonna do away doing reviews in this blog because I feel like I have to ramble long and it is a bother to find image and synopsis. I am lazy. However maybe some exceptional books I will make an exception.

And since I feel like I wanna talk about Big Little Lies both the series and book, so there it is.

Also now Emmy nominated series.

The synopsis of the book which almost the same can be described of the series:

Big Little Lies follows three women, each at a crossroads (taken from Goodreads below):

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?) 

Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body. But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. 

New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son. But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

I will say of the series because I watched it first before deciding to read the book, the series was incredibly scripted and nuanced.

Madeline played by Reese Witherspoon is a fiery little thing and whose embodiment of Madeline is maddeningly incredible and feisty and funny. Celeste is played by perfection by Nicole Kidman. Nicole Kidman can always play frail but strong minded woman hiding a secret. There can be no other actress can do Celeste justice. She can play layers beautifully. And Shailene Woodley whom I was not a fan of, certainly hold her own against the 2 leading lady.

Every actor and actress even the children are cast perfectly. And the visual is mesmerizing. Who doesn't want to live there. The music of the series , I played constantly on my Spotify. You should look it up. It is a gem.

The series pacing is well thought of. It builds the suspense and momentum and up the tension week by week. The only complain people have of it, is it is a story of "white people problem".

But when we takes away the privilege and the settings, a story of domestic abuse and sexual assault is never simple. It is everywhere. And that one scene between Celeste and her therapist was ... groundbreaking. It breaks my wall of thinking on why does women find it so hard to point finger to a domestic abuser.

As for the book, I can see why Reese Witherspoon picked it up to be made as a series. It was well written, well thought out of. However I have to say the series far surpassed the book, in term of nuances and direction of the story.

In the book it is more direct, more enlightening but if you compared it to the series, you will find the series have the creative edge more and of course a play on visual and music can set the mood. The director Jean Marc-Vallee takes on how he played out the character and the settings is incredible. Almost genius. You can see a lot of thought are being put in each scen. But the book does provide a wee bit explanation. Madeline story is given more to do in the series than in the books, but neither story is better than the other. The book is a bit forgettable I have to say, rather than the louder voice of Jane can be heard in the book. And also the detective and reporter makes more sense in the book.

Other than that, it was great. Both in the series and the book the gossip account given by the people living the area is abit unnecessary. It does not bring out anything. Maybe it does set it apart from other story, but if it is taken out altogether, will not be missed.

My summary. Watch the series, you can forget the book. However the book does provide a quicker insight into the character and it is quite enjoyable.

Selamat Hari Raya

I am still berpantang guys. Tapi mcm tak pantang. 

We celebrated Raya at JB this year cause I baru bersalin kan. Tak boleh makan sambal sotong di pagi raya is stressing me out gais. Dan kena tolak lemang Rembau. Stresss! Takpe. My pantang habes in 2 weeks pastu I nak beli lemang satu.

First gambar raya of all family members.

My husband decided on pink, and shockingly I don't have any baju kurung pink. I bought a jubah, tapi ketat. kahkah. I must learn my lesson and not to buy jubah online. Susah gile nak measure. 

Anyway raya I celebrated ok la, cuma ade few mende je tak makan. Pergi gak rumah sedara, sedara yg I close. Siap ke Kluang lagi. The baby during the stay at JB was ok. Ada time2 fussy. Mostly ok je. He loves sleeping tetengah ruang tamu. He can sleep there amidst all the chaos and noise. 

Anyway. I kept on getting interrupted while doing this short post so I am gonna end now. Will write more about baby later. 

3rd boy born

Alhamdulillah selamat lahirkan my 3rd boy. 

So on the 5th of June checked myself into PCMC around 10pm. My surgery is scheduled for 7 am the next day. We put Saif at my sister and Aziz and his father stay with me. 

Since it is confirmed that I am undergoing c-section, not much hassle and bother. CTG machine was only put on me once at 11pm and another at 5 am the next day, to make sure I do not have any contractions. Malam tu boleh pulak la aku sakit kepala and berak2, but not too bad. 

So by 7 am dah kena tolak to dewan bedah. Not sure if I mentioned it before, but my gynae for this pregnancy is Datuk Dr Aziz. And I am glad for this pregnancy amik die because he is excellent. But I am getting ahead of myself. Anyway, husband cannot come into dewan bedah because Aziz is with him. So it is just me. 

The last 2 full pregnancy, I had been put into epidural. This time, they gave me a spinal tap, so it was given dekat OT. And boy was my head spinning, manage to puke myself. Ahhh... I always puke during surgery. Confirmed dah ni. 

Anyway it didn't take long at all. I think we started around 7.19 am and then by 7.53 baby dah keluar. Kali ni I don't feel drowsy. More curious at what's going on. Can hear when they slice my stomach and smells something like burning flesh jugak. Horrifying. I am glad I can't see. 

When they finally pulled out the baby, I can hear immediately his gurgling cries. He won't stop crying and when they cleared out the liquid , lagi lah bergema OT dengan nangis die. Even the anesthetist remarked "Semangatnye yang ni " . 

After that it was pretty standard, stitched me up, baby taken to nursery, then post recovery. Last time I was in post recovery, I just got a blanket, and I was shivering so bad, right until several hours after c-section. This time I think ade new procedure, so they put some kind of hot air blower in between the blanket, and my shivering subside and no shivers after they wheeled in me in my room! Yeay! 

The baby is wheeled after 2 3 hours. Sedap tido gamaknye dalam nursery. He had problem latching on the first day but afterwards drink like a little trooper. 

Oh the baby? 

Fresh from oven gitu. Gambar amik sendiri sebab still stuck onto bed. He looked so much like Aziz that when the paeds first shown me the baby, I immediately said "sebijik aziz". 

Anyway, I stay at the hospital until Friday. This time post op recovery is kinda great. By the 2nd day can get out of bed and out of the urine tube. This time, the c section wound does not hurt so much. The cramping / post contractions is a bitch though. I swear I cried once. 

Datuk Aziz said since this is my c-section, I needed stitches rather than glue like the last 2. Also he mentioned, if I decided on the next child, the next c-section have to be my last. My ovary is kinda messed up from the last surgeries, seems like it is sticking with the stomach lining and other things. Datuk Aziz said to not eat any herbal supplements or anything that promote speedy recovery. The recovery should happen naturally. Huh. If only I knew this on my first kan. Heh. 

2 weeks after my c section, the stitches is healing great. Better than the previous one. I can move freely pain free ( if I do not push myself) and I don't feel as bloated as before either. Anyway, we will see how post recovery gonna be. 

As for the baby himself, he is doing great. We did his circumcision on the 2nd day, and the ring had just come off yesterday. Pusat masih lagi ade. It is a bit weird sebab the clamp fell off but some bits of tali pusat tu ade lagi. Have to continue to see. And if it bugs me too much, I can always ask my sis. 

I think dah cukup panjang kut. Will continue to write about the baby later. He is breastfeeding well and sleeping well. I am still trying to juggle the kids, the baby and the house. 

Later. Also selamat berpuasa and menjalani ibadah di malam2 terakhir ni. 

Selamat Beribadah di Ramadhan

I think I do it well enough if its a short burts sorta entry. 

- Tomorrow Ramadhan, and sahur pon aku taknak masak. Hey... I had never been a sahur type of person before but also realized am like 37 weeks pregnant so have to have sustenance. Also I can't move around too much without feeling like my water gonna broke and I am going to go into labor. 

- My surgery is scheduled around next week. I am nervous. 

- Still have a lot of things to be prepared. At least baju dah basuh. Tomorrow basuh mittens and booties and towel. Then sterilize bottle and breast pump. Then kemas barang. Need to also kemas baju for my kids. So many stuffs still need to be done. 

- I am tired all the time. 

- I don't know how I am gonna handle 3 kids without my husband being around most of the time. Don't know, don't know pon... kena lah get through it. LOL. 

- Baby is active and kicking around now. Probably happy her mom is drinking horlicks. Funny how when I was little I hate horlicks with all my might, up to my 20s. Then kids came and pregnancy and breastfeeding came, it is either Milo ( which I can get sick of quite easily) or Horlicks for my hot drinks. Horlicks win most of the time, and bile this pregnancy almost a daily thing. 

- Realized ever since I quit I haven't been updating much. Pity. I haven't even blogged about my trip to Cambodia though to be fair, I went pretty much the same route as the last visit. Probably will do like a short update... tahun depan? LOL. 

- Most probably I am gonna be updating after I got my baby. Kalau rajin maybe I pop in just a little earlier just to gloat I got everything ready. 

- And yes, this Ramadhan is gonna be tough, what with the kids not schooling, me going into czer operation soon and being listless most of the time. Maybe it is a good time to reflect on why I am feeling like this and what I can do to be better spiritually. 

- Tadek mood nak masak, tadek mood nak usha sgt pasar Ramadhan also. How now? Mesti price pasar Ramadhan gile saiko what with everything going up nowadays. 

Selamat berpuasa to my readers. 

Bersiaran dari Gleneagles

This time it is Aziz again who have to be warded due to lymphadenitis.

Gambar on the first day at the ward before Saif kena shipped off to my sis.

He mentioned it to me last Friday he said his tengkuk sakit and the right side of his face I then noticed looks a bit swollen. Bawak to klinik biasa but the doctor have no idea and probably suggested might be mumps.

By Monday it had become more swollen looking and decided a visit to the paeds is necessary. Just to make sure if its really. So it is not mumps though it look like it and the paeds want to be cautious and decided to ward him so a steady course of antibiotics can be given using iv. A bit relief not mumps too because I never had mumps and not looking forward having the risk of it infecting others and pregnant me.

A bit harried gak because husband not around. Have to send Saif to my sister. Poor boy. And hVe to ask someone to come the first and third day to look after Aziz while I have to dash home to take care of stuffa. Today is day 4 at the hosp. But we can be discharged tomorrow so yeay! My poor cats jugak kesian. Asked my sis maid to bagi makan and already send a big basket of laundry to dobi. Maybe I will ask someone to come in next week to clean the house.

Anyway.. it is not so bad this hospital stay. Bored je la. Finish 2 books and reading the third one. Aziz is non stop asking for stuffs to buy at the kedai bawah hospital ni. Though I miss Saif but so far he is doing fine. Aziz also dah besar and he is not stuck to an iv drip so his mood is mostly jovial. Mcm holiday at hotel. Except for the cramped hospital bed and waking up every 3 4 hrs when temp needed to be taken. Lol.


Oklah. Need to wipe my kid down. 

Kids and baby

Hola. 

Masa ni adik buli abang, abang cry, so we asked him to mintak maaf and hug. See Aziz tear stained face.

Let's start with the littlest baby update first. He is OK. Insya Allah. Currently 26 weeks. Baru lepas jumpa gynae and my weight shot up 3 kg, terus kena warning kena cut down makan sikit. LOL. (tapi i tak rase i makan banyak pon).....

Anyway oh I did update the baby in the womb is a he. We are gonna have 3 boys! Husband picit kepala je la. I have to admit I was a little disappointed but to be honest, not too disappointed. I was prepared for a life of all boys in the family if it comes to that, so I am happy either way. There is a little longing to shop for cute things but I have nieces for that. 

As for Saif, he is becoming a handful. I don't know if it is the middle child syndrome ke ape but he not as easy to handle as Aziz. If we open Youtube for him ( if he found one of our old functioning phone we keep on to keep the kids entertained if needs be), he will be so transfixed and addicted. If we took it away he become so tantrumy and shouty and needy that we decided to just hide all the gadgets. Thank God the kids already know their own parent phones are off limit so we don't have that hurdle yet. Other than that, he is also a little bit more messy, a little more selective hearing and a little more destructive than his brother. 

I also think because he is so cute, he can get away with so much at school. We are still finding ways how to punish him effectively, so there are a lot of trial and error to see what works. Also my husband found out that Saif called himself 'Baba'. We have no idea where he gets it from, maybe at school or if he likes Puffin Rock that much or he likes Babar the Elephant story. Who knows. But he refers to himself Baba. Sometimes outright refused to acknowledge his own name. Kecik kecik dah make own stand. I asked Aziz why his little brother called himself Baba , Aziz said " Sebab Adik suke jadi baby." Maybe jugak. Who knows. Aziz the only one who can translate what his brother wants bile Saif cakap tak clear. 

As for Aziz, well we had just settled the pendaftaran and pengesahan sekolah for the darjah 1 intake in 2019. Sometimes when he consoled his brother I felt like he is really big, and bile daftar tu, I still can't believe it he is gonna start school. Not soon , but imminent! He is really excited because his cousins all goes to that school so we will see how that day goes, in 2019. 

As for the now, he is very interested in his littlest brother. Always asking when doctor is gonna cut open mommy punye perut. I was a bit relieved I akan kena czer just for the small mercy, I don't have to explain yet baby come out from 'down there'. To him the logical way for now is for doctor to cut his mother open. 

Apart from that, perangai wise, he is a dream most of the time. A bit lazy when it comes to study, but I malas push. I seen that he knows his number and jawi, but alphabet still a bit weak. Haih. Let's see how la kan. Mostly interested nak main or tengok Netflix. 

Oklah nak tido. Main candy crush dulu. Dan sedikit wordament. Then tido. 

Google Pixel - User POV

So ever since I heard that Google want to make a phone, I was like super excited. Most of the people I know have a hard on for Iphone, but I looked at Iphone, tried it and like nah.

Though I am not really the really fanatical Android user who rooted their phone. I used to consider rooting my phone because I don't get why some UI is so limiting. I mean, we bought the phone and own the phone, why are you developers so anal about letting users have more control over our phone?

I think after the inclusion of China made phones have changed the industry a lot, and their anal control issues gets a bit looser. Also most of them started to lose out the shitty heavy UI that is integrated into their phone, to differentiate their phone from others but just make me moan and sigh on why are my phone so laggy.

Ok. I did not mean to go on and on about how Android had evolved to the better nowadays.

Anyway back to the first sentence. Super excited. Listened to the Google execs drone on and on about their miraculous new phone during the launch and was like hopping and hoping when can I get it. They waxed on poetic compliments on how the great the phone is. Then it went live, or being sold to US markets and reviews started to come in. Most are gushing. I was like, when can I get this phone laahhh! But Google is being super laggy like Android of the past in releasing it to other countries. I mean the only Asian country they released it to, for now is India. Sheeesh.

My husband knows how much I want it, and after much protestations on my end on how much it cost bought me one nonetheless. Since it is not still available in Malaysia, he have to buy it in an airport during a layover in Dubai. A complete surprise , I might add. I was just sitting on my couch and he just handed the Pixel case like he bought me chocolates.

Unboxing the Pixel. LOL. ( I think unboxing video is the silliest invention men/women created) .

So been using more than a month now, and here goes my thoughts on it. I think it is only apt to review it my way. Not a tech writer so not gonna spend my time writing on how fast the processor is ( pretty fast ) but more on what I like and don't like about the phone.

Like

- Pretty fast like I said before

.
- Pretty good camera. Got a lot of cool function . Esp like the panorama function, the 360 function and the blur function.

Trying out the blur function. Lapar pulak tengok bihun tomyam

Edited: A larger panorama view of my messy bookcase. A purge is needed soon

- I like how it is so pleasing to hold. I don't get carpal tunnel much, The phone also feels sleek, and don't feel cheap. (well, it better don't feel cheap. Mahal kut), Though I might add husband bought me the Pixel biasa, not the XL. Not sure how nice that feels.

- Battery while not phenomenal, is pretty damn good. It can last in a reasonable amount of time. Pokemon Go can be played without battery draining like running water.

- Since my old phone do not have the fingerprint function yet, I was very impressed with this fingerprint unlock phone thingy. The Pixel one places it at the back, which I like because it is so much more user friendly that way and , yes it is quite fast to unlock too.

The back of the Pixel is very distinctive. Fingerprint unlock at the back

- The unlimited photo and video storage offered by google when backed up into the google drive/space . I had run out of my Dropbox and was afraid the same is gonna happened to my Google drive so this. is. a . godsend.

- Does not overheat. All my previous phones have tendency to heat after playing games or while charging. Haven't experienced this yet with my Pixel.

Dislike

- Can't really handle too many apps being opened. I kept on forgetting to close. And if you open a really heavy app while there are a lot of apps running at the back, it can hang a bit or the app may crash.

- The ringtone being offered is very limited and soft sounding to my liking. I have to download another ringtone I guess. Havent try that out.

- The speaker is at the bottom and do not rock my world enough. It is reasonably loud, but I was used to my Oppo that have really loud volume.

Can't think of more to add. All in all, I am pretty satisfied and I love my new phone. 

Books I have read. Shorty short reviews.

I havent been reading as much as I like. I also found out my cat peed on the bottom part of my bookcase. So that is gonna be a hassle. I have to rethink what I am gonna place at the bottom of bookcase.

Anyway, despite that. I had been reading some. And also I like to keep my reading reviews updated because sometimes I forgot which book I had read.

Below are the shorty short reviews. I could not be arsed to provide a synopsis.

The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

It started off charming but then the heroine loses my goodwill after a while. She continues to be silly and it exasperates me.

An ok read. But not something I am gonna pick up again.

Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It is a delight that this time the plucky little girl did not catch the aging bachelor eyes. A bit better than the other book I had read ( A Convenient Marriage).

It is more of an adventure of one girl and her benevolent guardian who then inexplicably fallen for the slightly dowdy spinster ( 30 year old, but we lived in different time where there were no BB cream then).

Tolerable read, tolerable characters, manage to delight sometimes, and does not make me roll my eyes.

A Long, Long Time Ago and Essentially True by Brigid Pasulka
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For this book, there is basically 2 era where the stories are told. I picked up the book because I liked the title, and thought it was a fairy tale sorta story. But it is a story of war, family, struggles and identity.

It does not dig into your mind, but somehow at the end you appreciate how the narrative is told, how love endures, how humanity somehow prevails.

A beautiful unexpected book. A good read.

Map of the Invisible World by Tash Aw
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I had heard good things about the author and since he is a Malaysian writer, I am like, ok I am picking this up.

As for the book, it feels a little underwhelming. Basically told of an orphan being swept up during the politics of time during Sukarno era.

I found no fault of the writing. It draws you in, but when it comes to the character, I felt as readers we are kept at bay. Only Margaret seems to offer us a glimpse into her inner turmoil. Others are like canvas. Looked at, wondered at, but don't really understand. Not sure if that is the motive.

The pacing of the book is well thought of, and the ending while abrupt to me, seems somehow OK. It did feels like we are leaving a lot of other stories behind untell though.

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A lot of people roll their eyes at this story. I think people in my Twitter TL is calling it as a first world problem. Heh.

Hey, a first world problem is still a problem. I find that I like the book. I think it depict the characters nicely, everybody is layered even the shallow one. I did found the heroine eccentricities in clothes somewhat annoying. A bit too manic pixie girl, which Louisa did not need. However as story goes, it is unbelievable, but I am there for the ride and the good time was good. The sad part is somewhat clumsily conveyed to me. Ain't feeling it, but not bad lah.

Overall, a pretty good book. Not exactly a fun light read, but it is a light read and a page turner.

After You by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So ... this book picked up about a few months after Will died.

It was not a fun, nice feeling you will have as the first book. This book mainly deals with Louisa grief and how she coped with her grief. However I find this more believable. I find her more relatable in this book than the other.

Not as page turner-ish as the first, need to push self through, but then when Louisa is more sure of herself, I find myself liking to read the book more.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book also told a story from 2 different time. One of a woman from a portrait who lived during the first world war and the present, a woman who owned a portrait of the first woman mentioned earlier.

I liked the first woman stories better, probably because it feels like there is a lot of stories to be told during Germany occupation of France during the first world war. The second woman, who lived in the now, seems colder to me. Maybe because she seems to be enveloped in the loss of her husband, but her story and she herself seems to be cold. But I feel like this is intentional.

Summary: A good book. Barely can put it down. Ending is a bit meh to me, but not unexpected.

The Urge to Jump by Trisha Ashley
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I don't know if I can categorize it as romance, but it does seems to be the main plot, but the heroine, Sappho is so very into her world and her thoughts that there are barely enough for any other living thing, even a cat.

I like her matter of fact-ness and assured-ness attitude. Very refreshing. Though it seems like all of her friends, lover and even her place of living is eccentric. I can't stand the eccentricities. It also feels like there is barely a story contained in this book.

She maybe portrayed better as tv series perhaps, but a book, it feels a little stretchy.

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Can I classify it as historical romance? Bah.

Anyway, it is now midnight, I am sleepy, and I don't feel like this book deserved a lengthy review.

The book is plodding.

The main character is piously stupid, calculating, devoid of any feelings. It makes it hard to read y'all.

No one seems to like Margaret Beaufort, and the absence of even a brief lover is not making her endearing to any one. Even her son seems to view her as a statue to be looked upon, but perhaps just made of stone, with nothing worthy in its filling.

Plodding, weird change of narrative voice at the end, I guess because the writer need to write the battles and can't easily put Margaret as narrator. Even at the end of her own book, she seems... undeserving.

2nd trimester now

.. but still feeling pukey. Sad indeed. However it is not so bad. It is no longer 24 hour agony session. More like it comes and goes at all hours. But it is not too bad compared to a few weeks ago. I can eat at least. Though still have to choke back down vomit a couple of times a day. Disgusting I know. But better than puking all out and crying afterwards. Vomit and crying goes hand in hand. 

Maybe need to give it a couple or more weeks before I can feel fully like myself. My sister is like, why are you not cooking, but the thing is even looking at the kitchen, I can feel bile coming up. Terrible. 

So to list out all of the things I feel pukey around -

• The smell of grass and fresh earth mixed around. Holy crap this is the worst. 
• Cat pee. (and the stray cats who keep spraying around not making this any easier)
• Detergent and soap smells except for precious few I can abide by. So I can't smell my freshly laundered clothes without feeling like tearing my clothes away. MaxKleen is cool so been using that now. 
• Air Freshener. Husband had given up on this. Scented candle is ok if not excessive. 
• Teh O. I can't drink it. If I did, then I will feel a major urge to puke. The aftertaste is blergh. 
• Sausage. Even the smells of sausage I can't stand. 
• The taste of ginger. So that tips the internet keep on giving that ginger can helps. Hah! 
• The usual strong smelling food being cooked itself. Bau food court anyone? Gah! 

The things I can abide/or make me feel better are: 

• Milk or anything milky drink. If I am feeling pukey, this makes it ok. Which is weird, because people usually avoid milk in fear of puking. 
• Very cold icey drinks. But this is normal kan. 
• Have to eat nasi consistently or the next day, I will get a massive puke feeling. Baby ni penuh demand. 
• Chewing gum consistently. 
• Minyak kapak FTW. I tried all sorts of oil, but minyak kapak is the best reliever so far. 
• Hearing music at loud volume. It kinda takes the mind away. Tgk movie pon tak sebegitu. 

Ok lahhh.. Itu aje. For the baby, nothing to update. I hope he or she is well, healthy in spite of my earlier unable to eat prenatal pills phase. Be strong baby. You need it to face your 2 abang. 

I should be writing something

I should. Maybe it should be of my trip to Siem Reap which was great. But I am much too blergh to write. 

Because I am now 10 weeks pregnant with the worst case of morning sickness I had ever experience. 

Warning: Just puke related complain ahead.

I had morning sickness when I was carrying the 2 boys before. But this one.... this one takes the cake. I hope this baby is the best baby who would grow up to be the best person ever because you are putting mommy through the wringer here. ( I want to say hell, but there are plenty of mothers who are going through difficult health problems while carrying their baby... so yes, not actual hell yet). However this is my space to complain so I shall complain. 

I was elated to find out I was pregnant because I really want a third and I feel like it is better 2 or 3 years apart among siblings. So Yeay. It also means I had put off finding jobs because going to interview while holding the need to puke is not exactly appealing to anyone. So saya berserah je la. I am glad that I did quit however and then got pregnant because the constant need to puke is incredible and the guys in office probably wouldnt like it hearing that. Also it would be unpleasant. 

Previousl pregnancies, morning sickness started during evening. Now it is all the freaking time. Immediately after I eat, immediately after I open my eyes. No smell is nice. I hate the smell of food. I hate the smell of my kitchen. I can't go near my kitchen without feeling like I have to puke now and there. 

Kesian to my husband who now have to pick up the slacks because I can't do anything much except sit or lie down. I am hoping when second trimester comes it would be easier. Please let it be easier!. And of course here's hoping the baby is healthy because momma can't seem to hold down much liquid. I loathe to skip folic acid, so I tried to take em even though most of the time I have to puke everything out before I can sleep. 

Well.. then. Maybe after the morning sickness over I can then post more. Here's hoping. 

Next update I hope I will be less complaining. 

Say something

It had been a while. Was I busy? I guess I was... anyway, keep trying to update but then there are other things to do.

What I had been up to? House chores I guess. Going to classes. Oh yeah, I quit my job. The commute is terrible. And I feel like it is too demanding a bit, especially those late night and frantic phone calls whenever my kids are sick. So I am kinda a housewife. I don't say I love it, but I don't hate it also. Been trying to find suitable job but it is hella difficult. Also I am a bit picky. LOL.

I have to be because I got some limitations. But I don't feel like explaining why I quit my job because holy hell aint people judgmental about that. I mean not like me not having a job is gonna affect these people with opinions, but that does not stop them from expressing it. So I dont feel like saying it in FB especially because you know how FB can be like. IGs is a place for my cats so that is not really applicable.

My friends knew, well some, but I am not exactly announcing it. I am announcing it here, because I feel like if I don't say it ..it kinda hold back on the things I want to babble about in a blog.

So what I had been doing... actually apart from housework, I had been doing something else, but I ain't feel like like say.

I will post again. Will be going to Siem Reap soon, so we got that to look forward to in a blog.Heh. 

Mini splurge at the Popular Warehouse Book Sale

This year instead of the BBW sale, I much more antcipated this Popular Warehouse Sale because it is cheaper. RM5 instead of RM8 the usual in BBW . Like the previous year it was held in Vivo Home Shopping Mall . 

Went there on Thursday night, spent about an hour. Dont get to browse much because I was tired . And the rows of books are like these. 

The Popular Warehouse Sale do not have such a wide range of bestsellers normally seen at BBW, but maybe I don't really have the time to dig through. However one thing I like about the Popular Warehouse sale, there is some pretty good stationery and some toys. 

Was thrilled to find the lapdesk, which is around RM24 I think, because I was looking for something similar since I am now using my husband old Surface and the Surface needs a pretty sturdy flat surface for me to use it properly with a keyboard, bought some toys for the kids. The Hot Wheels cost RM10.99 for 2. 

Also bought a magnetic board , not pictured. 

My books, counted about 17 minus a recipe book on biskut raya . Heh. I already have Mansfield Park, but this hardback edition is pretty nice. Most of these books are unknown to me, so finger crossed I find a gem.

Aziz books , which is all he chose for himself. He chose The Eating Monster book for Saif. Satu je buku untuk Saif. LOL. 

Oh and those wanting to go, it is still on till this Sunday. Don't expect the BBW range of books and cara susunan, but you may find what you want and the kids book and stationery is a steal. 

Harry Potter and the Misunderstood Child

Yes the title is different, but this feels more apt lah

Everyone was clamoring for this book when it first came out. But then silence. No gushes on how good it was or "shit..  so Ron/Harry/Snape/Hermione do whatevs". 

Now the summary is, it is set just before Albus Snape Potter started his Hogwarts year. He befriended Draco's son. And basically dark forces are still in play even though the good side had win, thus Harry as the Head of the Magical Law Enforcement had his hands full. He also have quite a strained relationship with Albus . So the story is mostly centered on Albus. 

As for the review... let just say, this is not a book. This is a screenplay because JK Rowling I guess feels like the other people who can't go to London to see their play also deserved to know the story. Which is kinda true. So the book feels bare-boned and without a soul. 

It delighted me that Albus went to Hogwarts but it also makes me yearn for all those description about Hogwarts which makes the Harry Potter book and world so engrossing. Which is why I finished it around 2 or 3 weeks. It just feels meh. I meant it was interesting to know what the characters that we love so much end up doing but it doesn't feel like the Harry Potter books that I know. Even the Hermione, Ron and Harry voice does not feels like their voice. I guess the screenplay kinda like stripped it down a bit. 

I wish we gets a book with more description on it, but I guess we have to keep on wishing because JK Rowling mentioned this is the last Harry Potter books she will write. 

Those who loves the little descriptions in the Harry Potter books will probably get this, because we are a little bit obsessed. But at the same time, maybe a Wikipedia summary of the book will suffice too , yeah, that is a little mean, but it does feels like it. 

We will just have to content ourselves with rereading the Harry Potter series then to immerse in the Harry Potter world. 

p/s : I am super excited for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Feels like a Harry Potter for adult. 

Saif and Aziz update of sort

First of all I wanna start with the Raya of 2016 updates. What the eff la Dils, raya is like ages ago. Buttt... well, nothing special pon, though I manage to wake up late masa raya which pissed off my husband, huhu, stress tul. But no worries afterwards lepas tu ok je. 

I aint feeling like uploading one Raya pic because there is no decent ones except of the kids and those are in FB so biar lah. But masa raya ke 3 tu, we went to Kluang to visit some relatives and came back with these cute bicycle. 

Aziz is not thrilled that he have to kayuh beca for his baby brother. Anyway, the bicycle is safe enough but I was upstairs when it happened , it seems like around 10 pm after we finish beraya and the kids are still hyped up , they were playing downstairs and heard suddenly Saif cried like I never heard before. You know the difference la kan, if your kid nangis jatuh sebab sakit, or nangis sebab something is like seriously wrong.

So it seems like somehow when trying to get down from the bicycle he fell and hit his head on the sharp edge of the wall. And at first there seems to be a lot of blood which scared me because he is still a baby. 

Off we went to the clinic and then to the hospital. Left Aziz at my mom which Aziz was sad about, but cheered up when we opened his favorite show. So berkampung la us 3 at the emergency up til 3 am. The wound was cleaned up and options was given. Alhamdulillah nothing is wrong and the cut walaupon a bit deep but small so he don't need any stitches. Just let it heal naturally and not shower his head for 5 days. Masam betul la kan. 

He was crying piteously for mommy here. Kesian baby boy.

Also I just now realized I didnt do a "Hey Aziz is 4" post. This is why I am not a top mommy blogger, 

Anyway he is now 4. And I realized he is plenty of smart, kind and basically a very lovely boy. A bit loopy sometimes and have a tendency to tune people out if he is concentrating on something. Like his fav tv show. 

I decided to just send birthday cake to his school and make party packs to his class and nursery. 

I ordered his birthday cake from my sister friend. I like her cakes and I know she can do drawings so she did this. Maybe it is not so grammatically correct but eh.. ok je. I tanye Aziz sedap ke tak die jawab off topic. So who knows. Haha. But he was excited to see this cake sebab die cakap nak kek Iron Man so Iron Man la die dapat. I dont opt for the edible image because Aziz hated those edible image. I think Jaja ( the baker) did a pretty good job too. 

And the party packs, amongst the chocolates and raisins and candies, I also put in those cheap Marvel superhero coloring books with cheap color pencils, and printed an iron man mask for the kids for them to play around. 

Printed and pasted it onto the box , kekonon ikut theme.

Also buat some queen cakes or some might know as fairy cake. Kinda like a cupcake, but more lighter version .

I had just learned that making icing is hella easy. 

Party packs ke nursery. Class lain . 

This is the class sebab class punye ade buku kaler. Huhu. 

Anyway, majlis die pon time masa jamuan hari raya so that I don't have to do things twice and more kids get to enjoy cake. He was pretty happy about it and I don't ask for pics because eh.. I dont mind. He is tickled that he came also also with a bag and said somebody gave him coloring books and colour pencils. Which he lost immediately. Sigh. I hope the other kids enjoy the coloring books though. 

Whats in a name

I am checking the name list of past and present employees in my company currently.

There are 16k of them. This is a sucky job.

Anywayy.. it does gives me a glimpse on how we Malaysians name their kids..

1. So many A. So many name start with As .

2. Not enough C.

3. Someone name their son Awie. Peminat rock kapak.

4. There is also a someone who name their kid Erra Fazira ( a somewhat different spelling so I am being a p&c here to not divulge the full name). Maybe Erra and Awie should meet.

5. There are way too many Danial and its variantions in Malaysia. And Fariz. And Farah.

6. Short names are the best.

Also when Aziz need to be in a hospital before, I was very very thankful that I have a very short name. It gets so very tiring filling up so many forms. 

This had been too long

Will jot down more. Because will seriously have more time later on.

Now off being busy. Yeuch.