Three Hours and Counting

It was a morning flight out of LCCT. Like usual, I would always have difficulties sleeping before my trips. The same happened to this one too. By the time I completed packing, it was almost 4am and airport pickup was at 6.30.

Fearing that I may not wake up later if I dozed off, I spent of my awake hours, rearranging the handbag section of my closet!! Quietly, I took each one out and reorganized the entire area. Perhaps I was nervous, or maybe I was too excited...I don't know.

Checking in at LCCT went smooth as I had done a web check in for everyone. We did the luggage drop off and went straight in the boarding gates.

Went through the airport security checks followed by a quick bite at one of the cafes in LCCT boarding area and not long after that came our boarding call.

I hit slumber even before take off and next thing I knew food was on its way down the aircraft aisle.


It was a longgggg flight - 14 hours from LCCT to Paris Orly. We left slightly after 9am on Thursday 17/3/2011.

These were my earlier accounts written onboard AAX flight D72014 LCCT - Orly.

Three Hours and Counting

This is our third hour onboard this flight to Paris. We still have a long way to go - like another 11 more in this just-about-my-size airplane seat.

Can't recall when I last took a long haul flight. Perhaps it was that trip to San Francisco couple of years back.

The question is now, other than sleep, how else could we entertain ourselves?

Nissa is now doing word search. Farah has drowned her system with music from the iPad. Abe is flicking through the pages of the itinerary I had drawn up. Fifteen pages long - complete with metro stop guides and street directions courtesy from Mr Google map.

These last two days I intensified my research on this trip - burning the midnight oil trying to understand the complexity of Paris metro and treading Tripadvisor hints on the dos and don'ts about this city. The result from this research we will know once we get on the ground.

I am just a bit disappointed, however as I didn't get to prepare much on the tech bit. Had wanted to transfer some movies from my external hard disk to the iPad. Unfortunately, I didn't get to. Else I'd be grinning watching Hantu Kak Limah 35,000 feet above sea level. That would be just great entertainment, wouldn't it? Cer citer cer citer...

The cabin lights are now dimmed. We have just had lunch and looks like it's snooze time coming right up. But how long can one doze off?

I remember my very first ride on an airplane. It was when I flew to the US to further my studies. The forever like journey was 14 hours long - from KL to London and then another 12 or so from London to Chicago. I was bored and I was restless. And I was so much missing a dear person in KL. During that flight I did nothing else but descriptively penned my journey. Not a single little info was left out. I wanted that dear person to share my experience during that important milestone in my life.

Looking back now, ohh how ancient ago that was. And how so naive I was too. Now seated in row 22 next to Nissa, what happened then never did have much significance.

This is my life now...and I am so blessed.

17th March 2011 at 1.00pm
Sent from my iPad

We Are Home

Home sweet home!! Yes, we are back in good ole Shah Alam after our slightly more than a week break in Paris and London. Encountered minor hick ups here and there but nonetheless, it was a wonderful trip.

Jardin du Luxembourg - located on the 22.5hecters public park in the 6th arrondissement in Paris - a palace built by Marie de Medicis, widow of King Henry IV.

A beautiful statue located on the square opposite Les Invalides with The Eiffel Tower in the background.

The Panthéon - very close to our apartment in the Latin Quarter.

We loved both the cities. Nissa loved London more than Paris for reasons she'd rather keep to herself (but deep down I know she likes Paris too...if she knew French!).

Our apartment in Paris 110, Rue Monge - the one with dark brown doors

Statue of Winston Churchill on the grounds the Grand Palais (Great Palace) which is now a museum.

Took lots of pictures, will upload them later - hopefully time permits me to blog about the trip. Must now go organize my notes from the iPad. Looks like it will be a bit of a wait till that happens. But here are some pictures first of the two lovely cities :)

Busy London streets

In the background the National Art Gallery in London. It overlooks the Trafalgar's Square.

Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace and the Big Ben - view from River Thames.

Am all set for work tomorrow. I am not expecting a grand welcome home reception, but I do wish for a calm couple of hours to settle down before I battle any (possible??) storms brewing during the time I was away.

Ahhhh...the London Tower Bridge

Paris, je t'aime

It was her favourite TV series on Disney Playhouse. Watching that little redhead Madeline getting in and out of trouble got her all in chuckles and eyes glued to the screen. That was Nissa when she was three and since then she has never stopped talking that one day she’ll visit Paris.

Nissa's travel wish list. Did HK a few years back. Tokyo may have to wait slightly longer.

For as long as I could remember, if there was one place Nissa wanted to go visit, it has consistently been Paris. Documentaries on Travel channel about Paris’ monuments, museums, parks and gardens, squares, bridges created so much curiosity in her.

When I was choosing destinations for our family holiday this year, she was adamant about Paris. And many thanks to Uncle TF for the promotional fare tickets, both Nissa and Mommy managed to secure 4 tickets to Paris (rate was pretty da*n good, if compared to the other carriers).

We are all packed and set to go. I’ve got my itinerary ready to attempt the city. I’m very sure there will be lots of “moments of truth” during our upcoming stay.

Wish us luck and till next time au revoir.

Time Out

It's almost time for me to log off from the computer and do my thumb-print sign off at the exit door. I’ve had a lot going on these last few months. And there will be more coming up in the next few months.

Work had me on the go so much; always in a hurry with practically no time to laze around and relax. I am so, so dead tired (and mind you this is only March!!).

This old girl needs a break.

It’s time to go smell the roses and allow myself to be awe-struck at the splendour of the sun as it rises, and appreciate its magnificence as it sets, InshaAllah.

But there’s a pinch of sadness in me that I don’t know how to explain. It feels like there is something hurting but I can’t figure out what it is.

So…I’m going away for a couple of days – taking time off to spend some quality time with the family.

Life is precious…we only have this moment…the next is not a guarantee.

Sent via Kay's Berry

Ivory Turns Ten

She flaunts a striking exhibition of unlikeness from her other siblings. If both her abang and kakak are mocha ice blended; Nissa, I'd say is Yeoh's soya milk. I recall that morning of March 11, 2001 when Doc Harris put her in my arms moments after she was born. My thoughts were, "Ohh...okay...my color scheme".

That shouldn't be the first thoughts crossing a mom's mind I know. But after a whole hour of huffin' and puffin' in the labour room, seeing this a bundle of joy whose complexion is closest to my (side of the family...he he) color scheme, I was extra elated. Of course, the tiny fingers, toes and eyes that squint opened whenever she got hungry or wet got us gu-gu ga-ga later on.

Ebony & Ivory

Today that 3.98kg baby girl turns TEN. This morning on the way to school, she said this to me, "I'm 10 Mom, no surprises on my birthday please." My baby is growing up so, so fast! I miss that little bouncy girl in dragging diapers that used to stir her from slumber.

In some distorted part of myself I wanted her to be crying; longing to spend lazy mornings with me, clinging onto my pants as I head out for work.

Hu hu....how fast time flies.

So Nissa...

Today you are 10
What more can we say,
You're becoming more special
Each and every day.
Blow out your candles
One by one
Enjoy your birthday
Have lots of fun.

Be proud of who you are and strive to be the best. Follow your dreams, put forth your efforts to achieve your goals and let God do the rest.

Sent via Kay's Berry

Scent of a Man

Whenever we pass each other, I'd breathe deep. So masculine, extremely powerful and yet refreshing. Ahhhhhh.......he smells just great. There were times I felt like turning the opposite direction and follow closely from the back, just so that I could get a whiff of him again.

Of course, I never had the guts to do that. A smile that was the most I offered him.

And who is this person? Who am I stalking?

No, I'm not stalking anyone. HE is a guy I'd cross path with during my morning walk. And HE always smells great!! Just when others on the walk track look like they have just rolled off their beds, this 60 sumthin', good built Uncle is all coordinated from head to toe. There is something about him. My wild guess is that he must have served a branch of the Armed Forces. Perhaps he was a Navy men, I don't know. But from his looks one could guess that he was trained to act in accordance with rules.

Every time we pass, his scent haunts me. That exceptional blends of herbs, tobacco, spices and lavender transport me back to the 80s - to my UW days. I kept guessing but what is it?? What is that scent? I know it but I can't make out what it really is.

I have rulled out Brut, Old Spice, Aramis, Polo, Giorgio - just to name a few. Mind boggling, this really is but seriously...what is that scent??

I know I know it......but what is it??!! Maybe it'll be easier if I asked him tomorrow at walk.....

February in March

It would make a good movie title this "February in March". Gosh...this hiatus is a long one; Sembang is so, so neglected. I have been extremely occupied with work, work and more work. It sounds so cliche, I know, but that's how my life has been these last few weeks.

To tell you the truth, I am exasperated. On the work front, as projects are merrily coming in, I just don't want to be accountable for anymore deliverables and I want to throw away my project manager hat. I just want to sit and do nothing for a change......

But boleh ke?? Perhaps I could, but I know for sure I'll be bored to death just not doing anything. So, never complain lah kan.....

Anyway, I have digressed. Guess that's what happens to you when you haven't been writing long - you tend to pour your heart, never mind if it makes no sense to anyone else.

Okay...back to the title.

February....it was such a short month. The 28 days went flying unnoticed. Many good things happened to me in February but I can't recollect all for this blog. Pathetic kan.....

There were two birthdays that fell in February, one was Faris' and the other was mine. Both days came and went in a blink. There was a brief celebration - nothing either one of us would shout about. Went out for makan and cake pun baked sendiri. Creative? Err...call it doing things different from the previous years.

There were no pictures. Semua orang pun dah malas nak gi snap, snap away. Go eat, catch up on things, dah kenyang, back home and rest. Sounds really ordinary kan?

And yes, just before my birthday it was Valentine's day yang none of us felt like celebrating. Ada yang kata, V-day has got to do with Christianity and ada yang refute. Had I written this piece in February itself, I would have said more. But now, almost a month later...??? Biar je lah senyap ...biar je lah berlalu.....

And it was in February that I started my morning walk routine - more serious this time around. Doing between 3.0 to 3.5 kms per day, gave me the extra push to get myself going. Must continue doing this and must not let work get in the way.

In February, a few of us at work kicked start our Wednesday aerobics class. Haaaa.....THIS was a killer!! But we all knew this was the kind of "kick" we needed and sweat it out we did! (tapi tak gak kurus-kurus...hu hu)

So these were some significant milestones in February. That's two months down and another 10 to go in the year. At the rate we are going, December will be just round the corner and 2011 will draw its curtains.

Jadi...itu lah cerita nya with February. Rather mundane, don't you thing so?

Now the big question which I know many are asking - how old this year?
Okay lah yang ni tak perlu nak berahsia.....anak lelaki is 22 and mak budak lelaki tu 47 dah ni!!

Hahh...the cat is out dah!!

Prezzies pulak??

Got myself this toy to replace the cranky ole STORM.

Sent by Kay's Berry