The Original Juice

Another Dilemma.

Do you prefer to take leave when your boss is in the office or when he's away on leave or business trip?

I checked with him already, he said he has no preference and that it doesn't matter.

Kindly do the poll on the right hand side.

Last Thurs had been uneventful, just that Tauhid class at Asy-syafaah mosque.


Fri morning, Hidayah called me to ask if im free that night. I said im free as a bird. She asked me to go catch a movie!!


So we met at Jurong East at 6:15pm. Dinner at LONG JOHN SILVER. and bought tickets for Mr Magorium, Wonder Emporium.

It was really nice! It's very kiddish but we all have a kiddish part in us, no matter how serious you look on the surface. It's a fantasy movie about a MAGICAL toy store that needs a change of management. I would have LOVED it if the toy store was real... :( Anyways, the heroine was a budding pianist in her younger days. So there were a lot of Piano scenes... and i can't help remembering my faraway pianist of a husband.

I have been carefully steering clear from watching any love stories for fear of missing him too much, but can still manage to assoc everything to Zubair. Sighh...

Tmrw is another movie night with Hid. It's her choice of Alvin and the Chipmunks, this time around at Causeway Point. Yayy..

For I have sinned.

At lunch time just now, i went to International Plaza to have that much needed pedicure. I ended up spending S$192 at NAIL BLISS !!!

The pedicurist shook her head looking at my scabby feet. There were two deep cut on my right toe nail and another one on my right heel (the one that Syifaa' was playing with just the night before!! So cute she is.) She asked me how often i visit a nail parlour and whether i have any creams. I answered once a year and i do have the cream AND the foot file but seems like its just not enough!

I asked how often do you recommend me to visit the pedicurist? She said actually once or twice a month. But since u dont need to paint your nails, u can come once a month or once in 2 months. You need a pedicurist to monitor your feet, she added.

So, I bought the package of 5 + 1 sessions + 1 mask @ $140.

I cldn't resist asking, "Do you have something to make the skin whiter?" Bcos every time i look at my feet, i will recall this incident where Zubair saw this Chinese lady's leg and said, "WOW so white and smooth!"Plump tho she may be. HUMPH!! I will show him that i can have white and smooth legs and feet too! It just means that i have less to spend on you. *smiling demurely*

So, the pedicurist recommended me to buy the scrub. I can use everyday! and even on body but not face. So i tot, ok at least i can use it to scrub his back also.

It's a Sunday and I'm free all day.


I dont know why my eyes automatically opened at 9am, despite being a weekend when i usually sleep till late. Then i tot i'd better play game at the computer now before everybody else wakes up and i did for a full 2.5hr! Astaghfirullah! hehe... It's called Little Shop - Big City. a search n find game with a zesty twist!


Mummy's saying they are going out to Labrador Park. At first, i felt a bit lazy to go out... then i found out Kak Long is also going out which means that if i didnt follow Mummy n the rest, i'd be home alone and i certainly DONT WANT that!! Suddenly i perked up with the thought that i could wear the new sunday dress i just bought n i can wear make up the whole day today!

Syifaa' is driving Aunty Siti to work

Syifaa' and Aunty Caca

The pink and Blue collection.

Haha What's wrong with my eyes?

Mummy multi-tasking weaving the ketupat in the car.

My cranky Syifaa' kept pulling off her tudung!

1. Pram/stroller AT LEAST $200 for a good one
2. Cots Frame are mostly wood kind (i dont like cos will make room look small) and are at least $200 too. That's not inclusive of the bedsheet, pillow etc at $100 per set
3. Baby Walker $70
4. Bottle Steriliser $100+ Brand: AVENT. a cheap one goes at $40 but Kak Ly said she doesnt use it cos it fits 2 bottles only.
5. A 2-in-1 Swing bed and a baby chair was tagged at average of $350!!!!!!!!!

It was so demoralising that i didnt even bother to see how much are the baby car seats. I hope i can get ALL Hand-me-downs.

Our tummies were making orchestra sounds (keronchong hehe)... but didnt know where to go. We felt like eating thai noodles... Kak Ly didn't wanna go Simpang Bedok cos hot she said. Dont wanna go Haan River at East Point cos we'd be TOO STUFFED then at a buffet... Then we remembered that Mummy said the cafeteria at Airport Terminal 1 has been renovated and more muslim stalls have opened.

So we headed to the airport despite the fact that my parents had just came back that morning at 6am after virtually overnighting there sending pple to Hajj. But Suddenly i got a bit scared at the prospect of looking at the airport yet again. My heart is just mending from a serious heartbreak 7 days ago and i would be subjected to the raw pain again... Ohh Lord.. But i took comfort that i am with my family this time around.

Flowery me behind the Flowers at Terminal 2 Sky Train

Syifaa' sleeping ALL the time we were at the airport

We were actually kinda disappointed by the cafeteria. Bcos in actual fact, it hasnt changed that much. Our expectations were brutally crushed! Heh... We imagined that there were so many stalls that we cldnt even decide what to eat... but there were only 2 additional stalls both selling RICE (!!!) + the usual Thai, Western and Indian Halal stalls...

At least Kak Lily got a Thai Beef noodle. Even then she said most of it were FATs (ie not the meat)! and i settled with a safe Chicken Cutlet. But we were somewhat consoled by the heavenly shaved ice + lychee dessert.

We wanted to go to Ikea but we reviewed our Boot space condition and decided against it. Its filled to the brim w the car seat, stroller, several shopping bags and the bulky safety baby gate (whatever u call it).

At home, it was SUPER DULL!!

1. Mummy n ayah went straight to bed.
2. Long is still not home.
3. Kak Ly was busy attending to Syifaa'.
4. TV is a firework! Mummy already bought a new one (after 13-15yrs) yesterday but it will only arrive on WED!!
5. My PC is throwing a tantrum hanging just after 30min when i DID manage to turn it out. At other times, it will just freeze at the Windows XP window, deemly lit.

Kak Ly and i tried to play Mystery Case Files - Madame Fate together, but Syifaa' was restless and sleepy that we could hardly concentrate. Then i was left to play on my own and got bored.

I gave up and went to bed reading instead. Then bored again, and looked at pictures on my hp and suddenly i cldn't take it anymore. I cried. I was so missing him. I told him last night that i won't call him (like the previous night too) until HE calls me becos he's promised me for over a week that he would buy that new calling card that's super cheap to call Spore but still havent!!

It was 10.45pm and i cldn't take it any longer. So i called Zubair. Turned out he was just walking to the shop to buy the card! And at last, half an hour later we got to talk for more than 30min. :D Weee...

Tues night was my 3rd night with him a million miles away.


I have managed to gather 8 out of 11 of the girlfriends for dinner. After strolling along Bussorah Street, we finall settled at Amirah's Grill for Dinner.

I remember we went to the Pahang St's outlet a few years back before Nan migrated to Oz i think. We got the pte room it was super fun!

We were greeted by a heavily decorated mirror.

That's the "bar" that nobody sat at.

But this is to give you a feel of the super cozy ambience. Unfortunately, this ultra coziness, esp our corner table, caused our pictures to turn out AWFUL. its either too dark wo flash or too bright w it.

Having been saving my tummy for dinner, i got real attracted with the set meal at $25 but consists of:

1. Chicken or Mushroom soup
2. HUmmus & Moutadel (or something to that effect) + pita and garlic bread
3. Main course
4. Any drinks
5. Ice cream or CREAM CARAMEL!!!!!!!

Cos i doubt i can finish the whole thing myself + the main course, i roped Khairiah in to share the extras with me.

Just look at how Khairiah is enjoying the mushroom soup. It is soooo unlike any other tau! Not too creamy and even tastes a bit spicy! I dont even mind all those diced onions i just swallowed every thing!

It's the first time i tried that Moutabel or something. Ainul said its mashed brinjol? Hmmm can't beat my beloved HUMMUS (mashed chick peas). Shame they didnt put enough chilli flakes. But i licked it clean, nontheless!

Black Pepper fish fillet was my choice of main dish.

Its the after effect of the Fish Methi. I am continuously trying to find fish dishes.

OMG, do i look evil or ravenous or evilly ravenous or ravenously evil?

The Orangey Juice

I love brights colours like orange and yellow. And i happened to be camouflaged amidst the rest's orange wall, as well as Sultan mosque's toilet! LOL

As usual, when we meet, we can easily be the loudest group. Not caring about other pple, we will raise our voice to be heard amidst the other talks, and then there's my thunderous laughter.

But somehow, this time around, we got to talking about sensitive and serious issues like the new madrasah (islamic sch) system that the govt is implementing on 3 out of 6 madrasahs; then about how there's no Ustaz / ustazah (religious teacher) who would volunteer themselves to teach at jails, halfway houses and the likes; about eating kosher food when Halal food is not available; etc etc...

We got to talking about weight. Esp the preg mummies. Then Hairiah commented, "Ah Julissa dah kurus." (Julissa has slimmed down.) Oh well 8kg is no joke man! If it STILL doesnt show then i will just cut my tummy off! LOL.

OH yes, the best part about that night is, it was just like how we used to be.. Singles. Everybody didn't bring their husbands. Ok only 3 out of 6 married pple were there. Zubair is of cos not in Spore, Ainul's hubby going on night shift and Hairiah's at Al-Falah mosque giving a talk to the youth.

We left the rest about 10pm? OMG! we actually stayed there for a freaking 2 hours??? It certainly didnt feel like 2hrs!!


Well... Just wanna say, THANKS A MILLION my dearest best friends to have freed up ur precious time to meet. and have entertained me while hubby is away. No thanks to Azma tho (heheheh) who was actually the initiator of this meeting claiming that we should meet Y before she flies off for Hajj and then cldnt make it herself! Oklah blame it on her job and her assignments. Oklah i guess we can thank her for at LEAST initiating it.


BUT BUT BUT... we SOOO hafta meet again in MID Jan BEFORE Nan flies off!! And this time, absolutely NO EXCUSED, ok??? When's Y coming back anyways?

I've been adhering to Hidayah's advice the whole day today.

I've been working hard attacking my IN Tray. I cleared 4 fifths of it. Yayy... I always procrastinate this certain task. Ergh~ Anyways, since i've cleared most of it, i can start blogging now! (Tmrw will attack the minutes of meeting. I have 3 undone!)

It's 5:30pm, so i'll write a quick one. the long story i will insya'Allah write tonight.

Yesterday, me and Nani were talking and somehow she got to asking me, "How come u prefer baby boy?"

Me: Actually... after seeing how cute Syifaa' is, i dont really mind if i get a girl. But mainly, i would like to contribute more boys into the country/world. I dont want to see the day the ratio to go down to 1 man for every 40women! (That's one of the signs of Armageddon.)

Nan: But that's supposed to be the outcome of a war what.

Me: Yelah.. but still..

Nan: I suppose Bcos in your own family too many girls already.

Me: YEAH!!! EXACTLY!!



Nan advised me that i really hafta save a lot a lot before having a baby. Bcos baby needs lotsa things. But just how much exactly? So i decided to ask my friend who has two very young children what's the budget to set aside for baby expenses and on what kinds of things.

She said she spends about $50 a month on milk for 2 babies. As for diapers, it may vary from month to month cos sometimes they get diarrhoea and u'd hafta use more. But if i recall correctly, its around another $50.

And then you hafta take into account the high possibilities of babies falling sick then hafta go to the doctor and all. Clothes and food are also another major expenses. So generally, she will put aside $200/m.

This is not including insurance yet!

I had asked the same person before about pregnancy, delivery and post-natal costs. She said that she used 100% of her medisave to pay for the hospital bill which was in the range of 2k. The pre and post-natal check ups didnt total up to much because she went to polyclinic.

I asked, "But dont u hafta wait very long at polyclinic?" She said oh no for these check ups, you have been allocated appointment slots, so u dont really hafta Q.

Oh right.


Ok i feel my research is still inadequate. Will update with more when i have them.

OMG, 4 of my best friends are pregnant!!! All due dates are very closed together! Gosh. May the aura rub off a lil or a lot on me! *blush*

Me: Boss, ur Amex exp already. You have new one?

Boss: Yes, i do! You were at the Louis Vuitton shop trying to use my card when you found out it's expired, right?

Me: *shocked for a moment then recovered* How do you know?

Boss: Yeah the bank called me. And they said that somebody's trying to make a huge purchase.

Me: *giggles*

Boss: So i said, "nah its ok. just go ahead."

Me: *giggles*


British are real funny. Do i need to say more?

I have always been paranoid about my health.

But i got very concerned when lately i've been feeling SUPER Dizzy when i got up from a sitting position rapidly. I used to be proud that i DONT suffer such spells bcos to me it seems like the girl is frail or whatever. and now i got it.

I heard its one of the signs of low blood pressure. Funny. Cos my family medical history is painted black with HIGH blood pressure on both sides of the family (i think but surely at least 2 of my grandparents have it) not to mention diabetes lah bla bla bla...

I pointed this out to Nan just now on msn but she said, "I tot u always have headaches?" heheh i told her, "ohh yeah when i was small i always complained of headaches but that's bcos i was spinning myself on purpose!"

At first, i tot i should go for a medical check up, do blood test and things bcos its been 2 yrs since the last one. The one the company is offering is at $379! *faint* but it also include Papsmear which 3 gynaes have been asking me to do but im just too scared to do it and which Nan said would cost a lot more expensive even at govt hospitals. But $400 is a lot of money.

So in the end, i concluded to ask the GP if he thinks i should worry about my health since im going to see to get my monthly Zyrtec (for sinus?) supplies.

Firstly, i asked if it's alright to combine 4 diff kindsa pills namely: Zyrtec, Vit C, Yasmin and Panbesy (the slimming pill). He said it should be ok but reminded me that when i take Panbesy with the rest, i might have faster heart rate and sleeping problems. Which is fine cos that's Panbesy's side effects that i was warned for the first time round. But it confirms my worry on why do i feel panting breathless almost like asthmatic at times esp after drinking cold water.

Then i asked about my dizziness. He said its normal for ladies to suffer from them. And that it would be doubly more for me cos im taking 4 pills a day. I insisted, "But is it like a sign of low blood pressure or something? Should i worry?" He checked my blood pressure. It was 152/75. He said its normal. Not too high not too low.

OK phew. im relieved. So now, perhaps i can hold that medical check up for awhile. Need to save for a holiday! *wink*

On another note, I went to gym just now and was glad to find my weight didnt increase over the weekend of no exercise but more food intake! LOL. Or maybe cos i hadnt had lunch when i weighed myself? I still hadnt had lunch just MILO drink to sustain myself till Dinner with the girlfriends tonight! YAYYY

It was Mon night and i had class as usual.

Rain was pelting. I was touched by Ayah's gesture to DRIVE me over. Despite having just reached home and going to his own class afterwards. Thanks Ayah, i appreciate it.

I had got some practice walking to and fro on my own two weeks before and now it got more familiar and less strange, dark n spooky. haha... Hmmm... i still remember how last mon Zubair told me as we walked to class, "So... next week u will hafta go on your own... Take care ok?"

Having not taken any dinner, i walked all the way to the bazaar at the mrt some 8mins away and bought $1 otak2 and $1 goreng pisang (banana fritters). The seller was like unhappy to serve me. LOL well i wldnt blame them! But luckily the aunty still gave me some kerak/crumbs along w the goreng pisang.

Anyways, i walked home quickly to call Zubair and gloat to him that im having otak2 for dinner. Only to get hit back right on the face when Ammi said he had gone out already. But he told he would only go out at 8pm Pak time = 11pm Sing time. It was only 10:20pm then. Sigh...

I tried his hp to no avail....

I cldn't go to bed early that night. Uploading pictures lah... Singing lah.. Was also trying to get thru to his old mobile no but apparently he STILL hadnt got it activated yet.

At 12midnight i tot, hey i should better settle in now otherwise i would be tired the next day.

I closed the room door tonight bcos everybody else was also asleep and it'd feel even scarier to leave it open to the dark corridor. Hmmm It's also not right to sleep with the main white light turned on thru the night. One thing, wasting electricity. For another, its attracting unwanted attention? You know the ones that can give you the heebie jeebies.

So instead, i turned on the orange bed lamp. Hmmm its a bit too dark and suffocating me. So i decided to play some Qur'an recitations to accompany me thru the night. Thanks to Zubair who had bookmarked the free online Qur'an recitations website, i got it going in no time at all.

I felt uneasy and anxious tho. before i let myself be drifted to sleep, i dialled his old hp no again and it rang! He didnt pick up even after 2 calls! HMMMMMM... Ok ok it was midnight means its 9pm in Pak. prolly he's already on stage or its too loud to hear? But its really really odd that they have concerts even on weekday nights! Like who would go?? Ok to give him benefit of the doubt, prolly he meant like small gigs at restaurants or whatever.

I definitely didn't sleep well that night... I woke up every hour or so and will check my hp. The Qur'an recitations were a part of the reason i came awake too.. by 4am or 1am there, i was losing hope that he would call... bcos normally he'd reach home around that time after concerts before we were married. Then, by 5am i had totally given up.

I was in the middle of a dream. In it, i sighed resignedly and got up from my bed to go to the kitchen when he called me. but i totally refused to talk to him. Angry! Sulking! Then he came to me but i wasn't budging. Suddenly i was awoken by my super duper irritatingly loud hp! It was 6am!

At first, i was still affected by the dream and still felt angry at him. But cldnt help laugh when he cried in despair when i told him i had OTAK2 for dinner! and everything was ok again. I told him i simply cannot sleep without hearing his voice first. He told me, "It's ok honey, my hp is now activated, u can call me anytime." but i said, "Yeah, just remember to charge it bla di bla di bla.."

I called his hp thru Skype. The rate is Eur 0.11/min = SGD 0.22/min. We talked for about 20min or so. and then it was too late to go back to sleep. HAH.

But im thankful also that he called at such a time. So i wont be late for my Fajr! LOL.

BTW, i have also just found out that the IDD rate at Phoenix Comms to Pakistan has dropped. It used to be $0.60/min but now its only $0.40! Yayy!! I chose the prepaid service so as not to overshot the bill. i put the credit into my hp. So means when im outside i call him thru my mobile at $0.40/min but when at home i use the computer to call him.

So there. I didnt cry last night either. I can and will stay strong! Jia yoh jia yoh

So now i have so much extra time on hand, I should spend it wisely.

I should at least target to achieve a few things.

My schedule is already filled up with classes on Mon, Wed and Thurs nights. and a good half day on Saturday mornings. I'll try for badminton sessions every other Tuesdays?

Tmrw, the girlfriends and i are meeting at Sultan Mosque insya'Allah. I've asked my parents if we can go to JB next saturday :D

I would need about 4 days or night to shop (1 night for make up, another night at METRO), go for spa treatments and pedicure. I usually shop alone but anybody care to accompany me go shopping? Kak Ly? Hidayah? I think for spa i will get Long to go to Wayan again! hahaha

Ok ultimately, for the rest of the free nights i aim to:

1. Finish reading The Difficult Journey, The Way Back by AHmad Thompson
2. Finish Qur'an 1.5 time
3. Finish 14 days of fasting
4. Rememorise Surah Mulk, Rahman, Yasin. *guilty of forgetting*
5. Spring Clean the WHOLE room inside out
6. Watch 3 or 4 more DVDs
7. Read 4 novels (AFTER finishing those 2)
8. Practise cooking. Maybe i'll try to make Peach Tart? heheh if not then Mee Bandung.

The things he should look forward to to come back Singapore:

1. ME
2. Work
3. Singapore Zoo,
4. Night Safari,
5. Jurong Bird Park,
6. Discovery Centre
7. Swimming
8. Local Food
9. Museums

Ok I'm off blogging for today i hope. Back to work!