A Reason...A Season...A Lifetime...

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

TGIF (July 17, 2009)!

(L to R): Hasnah, Siti, Nori, Hasnah McCauley, Asmah, Norainon

Hi tea at Halaman, Seri Melayu...

We have all worked (or are currently working) for the same company. Some of us have retired, some are pursuing other interests and some have gone to live in the far corners of the world. But we all shared one thing in common....we cherished the years we spent together and this weekend, we decided to get together with Hasnah McCauley who is on vacation from Nigeria where hubby Keith is assigned. This was a chance to reminisce, catch up on what's happening in each other's lives and just to connect.

Siti, Hasnah McCauley

Thanikka Kittiasak from Bangkok is also in town for a meeting. I became friends with Thanikka many years ago when she was assigned to Kuala Lumpur for 2 years. We played a lot of golf together and since we are both single, we were frequently together. Asmah and I left the party for a while to pick up Thanikka at KL Hilton. We enjoyed a brief chat at the hotel before bringing her into town to join the girls for a night out.

It started at 4.15 pm with teh tarik at Halaman, Seri Melayu, Jalan Conlay and dragged on to Royale Chulan to enjoy a performance by The Alleycats...ending with nasi lemak and karaoke at Ana's and David Dzul's into the wee hours of the morning.

The Three Degrees....When Will I See U Again?

Julie, Nori

Ana, Abbi

Sekuntum Mawar Merah....Sebuah Puisi

Got A Black Magic Woman....Santana Time!!!

(L to R): Thanikka, Abbi, Nori, Ana, Hasnah, Hasnah McCauley, Norainon, Asmah

Boogie Nite....

It's been a long time since I had so much fun...and luckily, I was still able to wake up in time for a 9.40 am golf game today! Phew...I keep forgetting I am not as young as I used to be....the mind is willing but the body is aching!!!

Dancing ala "Pertama Cabaret" nyonya!!!

Thank you Norainon for organizing a great evening....it was a nostalgic reunion....we are all older now but still enjoying life...can't ask for more!

A Reunion of Friends

This post, although long overdue, is dedicated to members of ExxonMobil Alumni – Siti, RJ, Helen, Aishah and Hazel. Although RJ and myself have retired, we are still in touch with those still working and we try to get together once in a while.

We are very fortunate that the “married” members of the Alumni – RJ, Siti and Aishah (sorry girls…I have to make this announcement!) have very understanding spouses who allow them to venture out on an “all-girls-only” overnight outings with us “singles” (you know lah, a married Muslim woman must have hubby's permission to venture out of the house...otherwise nusyuz lah!).

Last year, we went to Port Dickson for an “overnighter”. Six of us cramped into two rooms at Avillon Admiral Cove….but cramped accommodation was our least worry…for we did not intend to sleep mah!

On Saturday night, we had a sumptuous seafood dinner by the sea (can’t remember the name of the restaurant)….I dread to think of what that did to our cholesterol levels.

(L to R: RJ, Helen, Nori. Seated: Siti, Aishah)

Hazel, Aishah

Nori, Helen

On the way back, we stopped at the night market to sample durians (more cholesterol!). There were heaps of durians of all strains – D2, D99, D24, (D=Disaster?). We felt quite at home sitting by the road side and gorging on durians....hopefully, none of the Esso Refinery staff at PD would see us so "uncultured" one....jatuh saham babe!"

Aww...my mouth is too full to even smile!

Pesta Durian Tolok Komang - Makan Sodap!!

Our plans included karaoke which would be next on our list of “to dos” but unfortunately, my car was involved in a minor accident when a carload of young tudung-clad girls (cover girls) suddenly shot out on the left side of the road, causing the side of my car to be dented.

So we had to forget about karaoke and all of us went to a police station to make a report. It was quite a hilarious scene at the police station – there were ten ladies and it was like “them” (four young cover girls) against “us” (six matured, ladies some of whom can be the mothers of those young girls!).

The other driver’s defence to the police sergeant on duty was that she had signalled before coming out but my counter argument was that you signal and check to see if all was clear – not signal and rush out at the same time….sheesh, where did this girl learn to drive?

Anyway, we thought that “youth” would win hands down against “experience” but thankfully, I received a letter one week later that the other driver had been fined for causing the accident. So, the system still works…the law is the law, regardless of who broke it!

With our moods already dampened by this turn of events, we had an early night but the next morning, we had fun – playing Pictionary! But aiyoh-yoh, I made my team kalah one lah (that’s why my golfing buddies tell me to change my golf clubs – I use Callaway – or “kalah all the way”!). We had also planned to play Gin Rummy but didn't have time as we wanted to explore the place during the day.

With not much time left, we posed for photos at the marina and surrounding areas. As all of us wanted to be photographed together, we had to ask a hunk who just came out of the gym to take our photos. After that, we spent the next 5 minutes speculating whether or not he was gay….you know, they say all the good looking men are either attached or gay….but not “gay” like in happy – if you get my drift!

But, then again, who knows, he may be gay and happy as well….oh well, there’s too much to do in life than to worry about someone’s sexual orientation - live and let live!

(L to R: Helen, Siti, Hazel, Nori, RJ, Aishah)...dreaming that one day, we'd own a boat like the one in the background....dream on girls!

At the night market, Siti, the clown in the group, bought swimwear designed for Muslim women to cover themselves. Although we did not get to swim, we had a hilarious time when Siti posed in her “astronaut” swimwear….Nan Siti, please keep that pic for your grandchild, OK?

Astronaut "Nan" Siti

We left PD on Sunday and along the way, stopped for lunch and some goodies at one of the rest stops….we all went home happy that we made it, after all the planning....it was not easy to get six ladies to commit to this trip - it had been postponed many times.

I looked forward to the next reunion but it turned out that I had to miss it this year – the girls went to Cyber Lodge and had a great time – as usual, with or without me!

We’ll do another one next year – I promise!

RSGC Rendezvous

(From left): Shidah, Nori, NJ

My surgeon's prognosis todate was "the worst is over but you still have a long way to go. In the meantime, go out there and enjoy your life, and do the things you like to do." That was all I needed to hear. Hey...! didn't I say life's never fair...you just get on with it!

In the spirit of "getting on with it", I accepted a luncheon invitation from a colleague, NJ (Nuraini Jaafar) who lives round the corner from my house. She roped in another colleague, Shidah, who is also my neighbour. NJ, Shidah and I used to work in the same Company and we are all retired. NJ, an Accountant by training, is the eldest daughter of former actress Datin Hjh Umi Kalthum and the half-sister of former actress Noor Kumalasari and step-sister of entertainment diva Anita Sarawak.

We had lunch at the Royal Selangor Golf Club (RSGC) of which NJ is a member. It was an invigorating rendezvous - catching up on who's doing what and who's not doing what, filling in the details about my hospital stay, making jokes of growing old together with friends in similar circumstances, etc.

Food, friends and fun....what more can a gal ask for?

We rounded off a sumptious lunch with fresh cononut water and before we knew it, lunch was over at 2.30 pm but before we left, this blogoholic had to take some photographs to put up in my blog....just posing at the golf course was enough to make me happy - my needs are simple, really! - and that's how much I miss golf!

Happiness is....monkeying around the golf course!

Even the flowers seemed brighter!

Thank you gals - I hope you enjoyed the afternoon as much as I did!

My Crazy Friends!

This post is dedicated to my crazy friends, my Rock of Gibraltar (not THE ROCK, ok?) who have rallied to my side during these difficult times. We all have nicknames and I’ll tell you why.

Mastorah (Torah aka Ms Gorgeous). Golf Handicap 28

Anak mami Tanjong (“tak dak kereta merah, tak dah tiga ribu, jangan dekat anak Mami….biaq sampai reput”). Torah is married to Jim (golfer) who hails from Illinois (Obama country) and they are in KL on MM2H program (Malaysia My Second Home).

Ms Gorgeous likes to look good (don’t we all gals?), spends time working at gym (Michelle Obama, you have been warned!) and is an excellent cook. She is my Nutrionist-in-Chief, making sure I eat a healthy diet, etc. She kindly cooks soupy stuff and sends to my maid who brings them to me daily.

She is also into “sinful” cooking…her specialty – mee rebuih tanjong. And guess what the mee is called? – SODO MEE (la sodomie en français)! How did we come up with that name? Well, Irene is Indonesian (see below) and she is proud of their Indo Mie so in the spirit of Malaysia Boleh, we named ours SODO MEE and it’s really to-die-for. Also expert in making pulut urap and nasi ulam (so how to lose weight ah?).

Audi (real name Rotziyah, aka Mrs Bakar aka Ms Gelojoh). Golf Handicap 16

No, she does not drive an Audi although her dream car is Audi A4 (kereta merah no less). Married to Abu Bakar Sulaiman (Ash Burn) my kanda.

Audi is Chindian (Mamak Tongkang/Cina Apek crossbred), hence her looks. Sorry Di, but you told me your dad Mamak Tongkang, right?

Loves to eat (hence Ms Gelojoh) but does not put on weight because she lives on bread and stays off rice. How disgusting! I just have to smell food and I gain kg but I love rice mah!

She is a Montessori-trained teacher and she runs Cherish Kindergarten from home in Ampang Jaya (hello kawan, if you get students because of this blog, you know what I like to eat ok?). Audi speaks French as she lived in Mauritius for 3 years because Burn used to work for BBMB in Mauritius (pre-BMF scandal days, ok?).

Audi’s specialty is bruschetta (not French but Italian snack) and the “sinful” curry laksa. Audi, you know that everything I like is illegal, immoral, fattening and against the law, right? I can only try curry laksa next year lor….so scady-kat want to sek fan mah! But I aleady lost 9kg - begitulah hikmahnya....eat your heart out babe!

Audi is lactose intolerant (attributable, no doubt, to her Chinese blood) and does not eat beef and we almost pengsan when she threw up after eating es teler (Indonesian "ais kacang" equivalent) that contained milk although we had said no milk. This happened when we were celebrating my 55th birthday in Surabaya main golop in February 2007. Don't you dare pull one that on us again ok?

Mahani (aka Honey aka Ms Bumble Bee aka Ms Lembap aka Ms Calgary). Golf Handicap 30

Honey hails from the hospitality line (KDE, Park Royal) and is very laid-back, hence Ms. Lembap. Sorry Honey, sometimes you make my blood go upstairs especially when you so blur, like that night. I apologise for calling you and Audi “bodoh”…you know I was not myself, ok? But dun varry...I still loving you (remember the rock group Scorpian?). Honey’s specialty is mee hoon soto – also to die-for.

Honey is also related to me lah by marriage - her ex is my bro-in-law's nephew..."smell smell horse mango" lah (bau bau bacang!).

Irene (Rijanti) Desiderato (aka Ms Gangsta aka manquez gangster). Golf Handicap 28

Irene is Indonesian and is married to Alain Desiderato (golfer) who is French of Italian descent. They are also here on MM2H. Alain (who calls himself beruk kampung) is a Trainer with Schlumberger (orang minyak mah) and is a fun guy....like Inspector Jacques Clouseau of Pink Panther fame. Alain jet sets the world on business trips while Irene controls the purse strings....Le ministre des Finances, so lucky meh!

Irene is a no-nonsense person (hence Ms Gangsta) who once got out of her car with her daughter Shirley and directed traffic during traffic jam and guess what, the other drivers actually obeyed her. Seething with rage, she then asked the guy in the next for car for a ciggie (Irene, you really gangsta one lah, that guy must be shivering in his pants!).

The Desideratos are ardent scuba diving fans and they were caught diving somewhere when the tsunami hit!

Irene’s specialty is foigres (duck pate) and grilled salmon. Irene, lorsque vous revenez saumon grillé pour moi, oui?

Yours Truly (aka Ms Gabra aka Ms Gadget aka Cik Nori). Golf handicap was 30

but have not played for 6 months so while I will still carry 30, I guess my "standard" now will be 36. As a 36 handicapper, I once scored 42 stableford points at Kajang Hill and beat all the Royal Lake CLub single handicappers (males) to win. Gosh, that felt soooo good! After that, RLC golf convener Hari Prasad cut handicap lor!

At Bogor, I won prize on stroke play also so can cari makan lah. Also won at Kunming....I miss golf..boo.hoo!

Likes to dress up for golf (has 17 pairs of golf shoes of various colours, skorts, coloured balls...how I miss them). Goes my maxim "bior tak leh main asekan begaye" (looking good is half the battle won).

Also into all kind of golf gadgets (hence Ms Gadget) - pancing bola, ball finder spectacles, etc. Datuk Seri Yunus Tasi - I can play only next year lah!

Loves to swim, bowl, sing, golf. Always hyper (hence Ms Gabra) and cannot tolerate slowness/inertia. When excited, mouth moves faster than brain. Fun lover and inspires to sing/play piano ala Elton John but when mouth sings, hand stops, so I stick to singing only lah.

Known as Karaoke Queen at Exxon but mum who teaches quran reading said “kalaulah boleh baca Yasin alangkah baiknya”. I am trying mak....learning to read quran by CD and going to enrol in class by UIA ustaz when I am well. Hope to be able to read quran decently by the time I perform the Haj later this year, insya’allah! During last Umrah, I read Indonesian version of the Quran at Al Haram and was enlightened.

Loves R&B/black singers coz I have husky voice. Faves: "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor), "Smooth Operator" (Sade), "Simply The Best" (Tina Turner), "Total Eclipse Of the Heart" (Bonnie Tyler), "Sweet Love" (Anita Baker),"Superwoman" (Karen White), Un-Break My Heart (Toni Braxton). Also do Broadway ("New York, New York" and "Mac The Knife)". Cannot sing Siti Nurhaliza songs cos I don't have that "lenggok - alunan" in my pitch.

Since my friends are such excellent cooks, very hard to lose weight lor ("not much fun left in life, don't deny me food; I'm on a seafood diet, I cannot see food, I eat 'em all). Has not cooked for 20 years (maid cooks) so my role in potluck parties is to provide dessert - give $ and Audi buys...fair enough, right?

Danny Deniro aka Batu King (Audie's bro).

Aiyah! cannot story you lah very complicated case one. You read on FaceBook lah. Golf handicap brapa bro - 2o?

So there you go, we enjoy each other's company for golf and other activities. They have been my strongest supporters during karaoke contests at Royal Lake Club although there were times when I kalah lah - sorry girls, but we did have fun didn't we? We are not fair weather friends as I am learning now.

Girls, looks like this old Gabra will be around for a while and you have to put up with me lor! Thank you gals for rallying behind me. "Don't go changin, to try and please me....I love you just the way you are - Billy Joel