My New Home

It is not my intention to discard my blog. I have few stories in line but not able to post it just yet.

Off late, I found a new interest in baking cupcakes. Those days, when I was in KL, I used to bake and sell my moist chocolate cake. I used to get hundreds of orders especially during festive seasons. I stopped baking about 11/2 year ago since I moved back to Kuantan. It is quite tough to sell my cakes in Kuantan because of the pricing. I am not able to meet the customer’s demand of reducing the price when the prices of raw goods have gone up.

With the support and encouragement from my friend Ayu (she started her cupcakes business about 3 months ago) I decided to try. I have no problem when it comes into cooking, so with this little knowledge of mine, I baked my first cupcakes using my normal recipe but transform it into small cups.

My only problem was I am not good in cake decorating. I had problem using the nozzle (as I am not used to it). I tried few designs and wasted a lot of butter cream and cakes as my work didn’t come out the way it was supposed to be which is sweet and nice. My choice of color is awful and it didn’t blend in. At the end of the day, everything that I did went into the dustbin.

I bought books on Cakes Decorating, bought all sizes and shapes of nozzle, dozens of piping bags and my nights are filled with my new found hobby. My husband and I will be busy trying to materialize our talent on the cupcakes. At the same time, we tried new recipe every forth night until we get the one that we really satisfied (only yesterday after 3 weeks of trying we managed to find so-far-the-best cupcakes recipe)

So I am getting better in managing piping bags. I have improved my decorating skills on the cakes. My choice of colors has changed (I have bought bottles of new smashing icing coloring); I have got my call card printed, flyers printed and my cupcakes website is running. This weekend I got to deliver 15 boxes of cupcakes, I got pre-ordered cupcakes for August; I am starting to promote my cupcakes for the coming Aidilfitri ( I am about this close to close one deal, which is the Aidilfitri Food Hamper worth few thousands ringgt, wish me luck). And I can see myself very busy for the next few months. Wish me luck people.

I am not sure whether I am able to update my Terompah World as I will be busy mending my cupcakes website. Anyway, if I am not here, you can find me there. Do feel free to drop by at www.madamecupcakes.blogspot.com. I welcome your honest comments on my designs (I am still learning the tricks. I managed to do the roses without having to do petal by petal). If you’re from Kuantan, and you need a change from normal cake to cupcakes, you know where to find one.

The STORM IN A CUP has ARRIVED in KUANTAN……

Get your Cuppa cakes crème, cream de la dream from Madame Cupcakes …..

THIS IS MY STORY

Arranging for a family gets together is not an easy assignment. It made it more difficult when you need to accommodate with 35 different characters, personalities and necessities. It took a lot of your time, energy, internet bills, and hand phone bills and in my case my prepaid dries out really fast. And one must be very good in sourcing, organizing, bargaining, manipulating and cursing.

And currently we, The Hashim’s tribe are organizing our due family holiday (we missed out last year holiday because some of us fall sick and were confined to the house arrest the entire school holiday). As usual, since day one I will be the main person who will do all the ground work. Crack my head searching for the right venue, the right date, the right budget, the fun in the sun itinerary and so forth. I need to get all the name list, put them in groups, arrange for their rooms, make sure that the surrounding is safe for the children, make sure food is good, service is good, aircond working for all the rooms, toilets are in tip top condition, with astro and of course internet connection. And above all I need to make sure that it is within the budget of our generous Paymaster. And every year she never failed to come out with a holiday suggestion.

“Let’s do the family holiday thingy. Last year tak boleh buat, everyone kena sampuk hantu. You’re free right, so, you go and look for a place for 3 days 2 nights, you come out with the itinerary and let me know how much. Haiya, I pay lah or I get my Latok to pay. See lah sapa yang kena. Hello friend, you think I got no money? Haiya you. You do the arrangement. I sponsor mah; don’t expect me to do the work. I just want to know the figure. You’re very good at this, you do lah.”

With that I am her official Machai. And there will be hundreds of phone calls from her chasing me and pushing me. I can never have a really good night sleep until it is over.

I still remember our first family holiday. My dad was still around and that was our last gathering. My dad passed away a month after our holiday. We rent 3 units of bungalow at A-Famosa Melaka with small private swimming pool each.

My parents never stayed up late, but that night we went to watch the Parade after dinner at the Cowboy town. My dad was sitting at the 2nd front row smiling from ear to ear. I managed to capture him in my camcorder.

A year after my dad passed away, we organized a surprised birthday bash for our dear mother. We invited my mum’s siblings, all her nieces and nephews, drove all her good friends from Kuantan to KL, put all of them in the hotel and booked a seminar room at Sheraton Subang. We put up performances for her. She was so happy and deep down I wish that my dad is around.

I also helped my brother in law organizing a supposed to be a surprise birthday bash for my sister. Well she knew from the start since everyone came and stayed at her house that weekend. But she didn’t know that I have actually invited all her classmates, her school teachers, her ex officemate and all her closest friends (I had to go all over the world to look for their hand phone numbers and email addresses). Again, we asked her children and husband to put up a performance for her. And it was worth all the pain and sweat.

Our last family trip was a 4 days 3 nights trip to Kalumpang Resort, Tanjung Malim Perak. We rent 7 chalets and I really like the place. My room was facing the pond. We organized a karaoke competition and my husband and I won 2nd place. We received a watch each sponsored by my brother in law. We spend our evenings at the mini waterfall splashing water at each other.

The highlight of our gathering was a trip to Mekah & Madinah. Even though some of my siblings are not able to join us, but we had a great time. To sat eyes on the majestic Kaabah (the house of God), I felt that I was so small, so tiny and how God has blessed me with this opportunity. I never stopped asking for HIS forgiveness for my deficiency, my sins and grant me with stronger faith, good health, a happy home and blessed my marriage and grant me with healthy kids.

I thanked Him for giving my sister extra ‘rezeki’ and May God blessed her and her family (our whole trip for the whole family was paid by my generous sister) with more fortune so she could do more good things for other people.

Just recently we organized a Birthday Gathering for my mum. But this time is on a smaller scale than before. Coincidentally, my mum’s birthday fall on the same day as the Birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW so we performed Solat Maghrib, Isyak, Hajat a short Taskirah about the Prophet Muhammad SAW legacy, His last request to his followers, His hopes to all his people, moments before He passed away.

The story was told in a very beautiful ways. It touches many hearts including mine. It made me realized the sacrifices that our Prophets Muhammad SAW has to go through. Praise to God, I am among the chosen one. I am lucky to be borne as a Muslim, to be raised as one and I pray to God that when it is time for me to go, I will go as a faithful and devoted Muslim. Islam will remain in me until the day I die.

Anyway, it was a very meaningful event. Quite a number of people turn up. We had a roast lamb and it finish off quite fast compared to other food. As usual my sister never failed to satisfy our ‘tummy’ with delicious food.

And now, I am working my ass off for our new Family Holiday Projects. Few places has been chosen but I decided to go for somewhere nearer, not that expensive (I do not have the hearts to spend her money on lavish holidays), easy and not a burden to anyone without international passport (my brother will have to fork out about 2K for his family if we decided to go overseas).

So it has been decided that the Eagle Ranch Resort, PD will be our next destinations. It has lots of outdoor activities for the children, teenagers and adults. And the best thing is I can go on horse riding … oh dear, I hope the poor horses would be able to sustain my weight and carry me around with pride. Sha...la...la...la…la…

Note: I shall write about my family holiday experiences in my next write up.

~*~ KEBAHAGIAAN INI ~*~

Bingkisan rindu dari seorang anak....

Aku bukan dilahirkan di dalam keluarga yang kaya raya, punya harta menggunung tapi aku kaya dengan kehadiran Emak dan Abah yang amat menyayangi kami, ditambah pula dengan kehadiran adik beradik yang agak ramai dan meriah. Kehadiran anak-anak saudara ku yang selori menambahkan lagi kemeriahan kami sekeluarga. Melengkapkan lagi label keluarga bahagia ku. Aku kaya dengan kasih sayang, kasih sayang dari seorang ibu, seorang ayah. Kasih sayang yang disemai dalam diri aku sejak dari aku mula dilahirkan lagi.

Ketika kedatangan hari raya rumah pasti akan sentiasa penuh dengan hilai tawa dan gelak tawa. Cuma semenjak kepulangan Abah kesayangan ke Rahmatullah rumah ini makin kurang serinya. Tunggak kekuatan kami telah pergi meninggalkan kami.

Namun, sisa-sisa kehidupan ini masih perlu diteruskan. Walaupun sedikit pincang tapi kekuatan, kecekalan, kasih sayang Abah dan wajah riang Abah sentiasa memenuhi setiap ruang di rumah kami. Hati kecil ini sering merindukan gelak tawanya, rindukan peluk ciumnya. Alangkah bertuahnya jika dapat bertemu dengannya semula walaupun hanya sesaat. Dan kerana kasih sayangnya juga kami tetap tabah meneruskan hidup tanpanya.

Entah kenapa malam ini terasa sungguh syahdu. Tidak mungkin aku melupakan wajah itu, senyuman itu, suara itu. Setiap selesai solat, setiap kali bayangan wajahnya melintas di kotak fikiran, setiap kali hati ini terdetik teringatkannya, pasti aku alunkan ayat-ayat suci Al-Quran buat hadiah sebagai tanda kasih sayang aku kepadanya. Sentiasa aku panjatkan doa agar rohnya di tempatkan di kalangan mereka yang beriman, memohon agar Allah SWT memberi keampunan di atas segala dosa-dosanya, di ringankan hisab kuburnya, di besarkan dan di terangi kuburnya dengan kebaikan yang pernah dia lakukan ketika hayatnya.

Ingin aku titipkan buat rakan-rakan yang masih mempunyai ayah dan ibu, hargailah saat-saat bersama mereka, sayangilah mereka, kasihanilah mereka, martabatkanlah mereka, dan kenangilah jasa-jasa mereka walaupun tangan-tangan itu tidak pernah membesarkan kamu, tidak pernah menyuapkan makanan ke mulutmu dan tangan-tangan itu yang pernah memukul kamu satu masa dahulu, mulut itulah yang pernah menghalau kamu keluar dari rumah, dan kaki itulah yang pernah singgah ke badanmu.

Ingatlah takkala mereka menutup mata, disaat Allah menjemput mereka kita hanya mampu berdoa agar dosa kita diampuninya, susu diberi dihalalkan oleh mereka, dan betapa sunyinya kehidupan ini nanti tanpa kasih sayang mereka.

Alhamdullillah, aku di beri rezeki oleh Allah SWT untuk berada di samping arwah ayah ketika dia masih sihat, menghantarnya ke hospital ketika dia sakit, mengucup pipinya dan memegang tangannya sambil membisikkan kata kasih sayangku padanya, memohon keampunan di atas dosa-dosa aku, meminta Abah menghalalkan setiap keringatnya yang tumpah untuk membesarkan aku, membaca yassin buatnya ketika dia sedang bertarung nyawa, membisikkan kalimah Syahadah di telinganya, melihat ombakan terakhir nafasnya, dan menyaksikan kepulangan anak Adam kepada penciptaNYA.

Aku menyaksikan semuanya dengan rasa penuh kesyahduan dan keinsafan. Aku kehilangan tapi aku puas kerana perginya abah dengan kehadiran aku di sisinya. Perginya Abah dengan kasih sayang aku yang di bawa bersamanya. Perginya Abah dengan doa restu dari isteri dan anak-anaknya. Perginya Abah setelah mengampuni dosa-dosa isteri serta kami anak-anaknya. Perginya Abah setelah menatap wajah isteri, putera serta puteri-puterinya. Perginya Abah dengan iringan kalimah Syahadah di satu subuh yang sunyi dan hening.

Walaupun tangis kami mengiringi pemergian Abah, tapi, itulah kebahagiaan yang akan aku bawa hingga ke Akhirat nanti.

Al-Fatihah buat Ayahanda Tersayang Haji Hashim bin Abdul Rahman. Semoga roh Abah ditempatkan di kalangan mereka yang soleh dan beramal, Amin. Anak-anakmu sentiasa merindui mu.

OOOPPPPSSS ... I DID IT AGAIN !

Ooooppsss I did it again.

I have ignored my blog for quite sometimes now and thank god I still remember my user Id and the password. I do not have a valid reason for that but I was just too busy doing other things. I was busy looking for a new cook for my small noodle stall, I was busy interviewing the right candidate for my daycare centre, keeping up with the latest ‘after effect’ tsunami of Malaysia’s Election Result.

And as a result, I missed out few important birthdays write ups, special event and the most recent, the sudden passing of my beloved uncle (Al-Fatiha. May his soul rest in Peace, Amin)

I miss blogging so much but, again I couldn’t find the right time to update my activities. There are so many things to tell and I am not sure which one should go first.

Just last week, the Officers from Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat paid a surprise visit to our Kiddie Centre. Ooohh... and he are not so happy with my documentations. The supervisor in-charge is on leave and her replacement is still new and not sure what is where. And I was given a week to complete my paperwork or my business might be in jeopardy. And for the last one week, I have been working my ass off completing the documents and preparing all sorts of report cards, health report cards, artwork report card, and visitor report card. There are so many things to do, but so little time.

I have missed few wedding invitations at the same time. I guess it is not too late for me to wish Syed and wife, congratulations and may you have a wonderful year to come.

I wish I could write longer. But my beloved husband is sitting next to me with his cheeky smile and well I guess it is time for me to switch off my laptop.

So good nights folks. I shall update my blog from now on (I PROMISE).

I WONDER

I wanted to inscribe about him but the other side of me said I shouldn’t.

The ‘him’ that I am talking about is another-someone-from-my-past. He thought me the meaning of love. I was only 17 when I met him. He was then a successful career man, huge big smile and a very funny man. We get along well and things started to heat up between us.

I still remember when I got my SPM result; he came to my house with a bouquet of roses. We used to exchange so-called-love notes and I was on my top of the world. It was such a beautiful relationship and my world is encircled around him.

When I got admitted to one of the local college, he was so worried that I will fall for someone much younger than him. Yes, I met few guys along the way but it has never stopped me from loving him. He understands me more than anybody else.

Loves faded, time flies and soon I realized that we spend less time together. During semester break I will spend my time in KL with my friends and I realized that the age barrier between me and him was one of the reasons why he can never understand my needs.

But the real reason was the love has faded away, I have more male friends than before, and I have more reasons to be demanding. He on the other hands doesn’t seem to care anymore. He favored to be with someone around his age while I loathe being in the centre of a group of older man. We sang a different melody, we dance a different cadence.

When I came back to Kuantan, I heard rumors about him going out with someone else but I decided not to believe. I did express my concern to him but he assured me that he can never lay an eye on another girl. I was young, I was naïve and I trusted him.

I was on holiday and I was due to meet him. Last minute, he cancelled our date and promised to call me later in the evening. I tried to call his cell phone but he switched it off. It was around 1 am, when I decided to call him demanding for an explanation. His phone rang, I got excited. Someone picked up the phone. I recognized that sleepy voice!

That night I wrote him a 10 pages letter, pouring my heart out, not a single tear the night I decided to end my 4 years relationship with him. The next morning, I went to his office, I left his birthday card and my 10 pages letter. It was the end of it. I won’t turn back. I have made up my mind. It’s for the best. I was forced to choose. I choose to end the misery; I don’t want to be hurt. The thought of losing him was so much to bear but I didn’t cry. His betrayal has made me tougher.

I didn’t receive any phone calls from him since the incident. Deep down I was eager to know the reason why but I was too ego to admit. On the other side, I was thankful because I ended it. It was just a matter of time as my family member never approved our relationship.

Few days after the breakup, I accidentally bumped into him. I was having tea with Uya in Taman Gelora. I wanted to get something in the car and I didn’t realize that he parked his car next to mine. I walked straight to my car, take the tissue box out and as I was about to close the door, then only I realized that someone is staring at me. The face that I was long to see, the man that I was once so much in love with (at that point of time I think I still love him). I look at him, I wanted to say something, but I turned away when I realized that he wasn’t alone.

I was shaking, trying to control my emotions and whatever feeling that is left in me. Uya managed to calm me down and act normal. He drove his car and parked exactly in front of where we sat. I turned my back against them and still shaking. I do not know how long they sat there watching me but I remember going home crying.

A month after the incident he rang me. He wanted to see me and clear things up. He said he misses me and it was a huge mistake. He kept on calling me and begging me. We finally met; he looked different, haggard and older. The meeting was full of surprises and he confessed. He has been seeing her behind my back for the last one year. He said he was lonely. And the best part is I knew her. I was so fool and blinded by her sweet gestures. I thought she was honest and he has betrayed my trust.

I stand firm by my decision. It was one of the hardest and I cried, cried and cried. I can never look at him that way I did 4 years ago. I can never forgive him. I can never love him as much as I love him before. He stabbed me from behind. I was loyal to him even though he knew I had a choice. Both of us cried, he cried because he is not able to convince me, while I cried because I am about to loose him for good. It took me months to get over him. He came and see me couple of times trying to persuade me but I stick to my decision.

6 months later, I moved to KL. I heard that he actually marry her. Once a while when I am back home I will give him a call. We met once in KL. He did try to win my heart back but he was far too late. I sent him my wedding invitation card, he promised to come but never turned up.

Two months after my father passed away, I called his office. According to his staff, he is on medical leave because of heart problem. I called his cell phone straight away. He told me that he had the 1st heart attack about a month ago. He was in coma and during the same time he had another heart attack. Jokingly, I told him that God is giving him the signal, to slow down and to repent. I told him, he may survive the 1st and the 2nd heart attack, but he may not survive the 3rd attack. I told him he still has time to ask for God’s forgiveness. He laughed at me and said he is now a different man.

It was early September 2005; I was due to attend my job interview in Rawang for the post in the branch office in Kuantan. I received a phone call from a friend in Kuantan informing me about the passing of ‘him’. Just about a week ago I spoke to him, we laughed while reminiscing our good old days together. He assured me that he was ok and recovering. I can still recall my last few words to him and when I told him he may not survived the 3rd attack. He died after the 3rd heart attack. I felt numb. He was once, someone so dear to me, someone so close to my heart.

I went to pay the wife, that girl a visit. She was devastated as she is not working and fully depended on his income. She is not sure how to support herself and their 2 small children. She said she is not able to live without him. He was her world. I felt sorry for her. They have got 2 small kids that resemble so much like him, and to my surprised one of them were named after me. I don’t think the wife realized the name was similar to mine (I knew that name well because he said if we were to get married he will named our girl with that name.)

Recently, after 3 years I bumped into his wife. She looked happy in the arm of another man. She probably didn’t notice me or pretended that she didn’t know me. It was that face, and that voice. The sleepy voice that answer the phone the night I called him. And his kids were there, looking at them, as if I was looking at him. They look so much alike.

And suddenly, I felt a twist in my stomach, I wonder whether she still pray for him, I wonder whether she still recites Yassin for him, I wonder whether she still visit his grave, I wonder whether the children still remember what a great father he was. I wonder whether she still remembers him, I wonder whether she is over her grief.

I can’t just stop wondering and I can still remember the song that he always sang to me, Baby … you look wonderful tonight.

Note:
On a different occasion, I am happily married. I am blessed with a wonderful husband from Mars, still so much in love with each other since the day we said ‘saya terima’. This year we will be celebrating our 4th year anniversary, and still counting for our years together.

On the other, ‘Him’ is just another-someone-from-my-past whom still to this very day has a special place in my heart. May his soul rest in peace and may God give him forgiveness for all our deficiency, his imperfection throughout his years of living. Al Fatihah.

DOCTOR IN THE MAKING

To my niece, Dina Ho for getting straight A’s for her SPM. I wondered what is inside her head. She is so, so, so smart and gifted.

Dina is the first grand daughter (my first niece) and everyone was looking forward to welcome her into the family. When Dina was five, they went to New Zealand. Both my sister and her husband went to do their PHD and took along Dina and her brother Danny.

When they came back to Malaysia, Dina couldn’t speak a single word of Malay and it was really difficult for her to adjust to the new surroundings. I remembered her first Bahasa Malaysia essay ‘Jika Saya Menjadi Seorang Jutawan’. In her essay she said if she becomes a millionaire, she would buy as many Kuih Pau as she could find. And for that she got ‘E’ for her essay. She does not know what the meaning of ‘Jutawan’ is.

Dina is a very talented young lady. Dina won her first piano competition when she was six representing Dunedin Pre-School. She represents Malaysia for the Ice Skating Competition in Singapore and won gold medal. She can play piano, violin and guitar and she’s very good with kids.

And today, she has proved it all. Beauty with brains and that’s my niece. No doubt sometimes she can be a pain in the butt, but she has made us all proud. If my late dad is still around, he will be so proud of her. Passing all her major exams (UPSR & PMR) with straight A’s and hopefully she will be a very good, devoted doctor one day, insyaallah.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CICAKMAN

Cicak oh cicak
Dimana engkau cicak
Kenapa engkau tak turun
Shukor hendak jumpa, Shukor hendak jumpa

Shukor oh Shukor kenapa ko takut cicak
Macamana aku tak takut cicak
Ekornya panjang sangat, ekornya panjang sangat

Shukor oh shukor kenapa ko geli cicak
Macamana aku tak geli
Badannya lembut macam jeli, badannya lembut macam jeli

Teringat aku satu peristiwa yang mana terjadi ketika kami di Endau Rompin Kg Peta, ada seekor cicak di dalam tandas. Mula-mula Shukor tak perasan, tapi bila dia nampak aje cicak tu, berciput lari keluar dari tandas. Kena pujuk baru dia masuk semula untuk mandi. Kalau tidak malam tu confirm Kor tak mandi. Dan sampai sekarang pun walaupun dah ada anak sorang, shukor masih lagi geli dengan cicak. Phobia giler.

Aku ingat lagi kereta Satria yang Shukor pakai, ada lampu kaler biru kat dalam keta tu. Dalam ramai-ramai budak2 Xtreme kereta Shukor yang paling bersih sekali. Baik dalam kereta atau pun luar kereta. Kadang-kadang kami ni saja nak dajalkan kereta Shukor. Kami pakat ramai-ramai letak muka yang berminyak-minyak pada cermin kereta Shukor. Biar padan muka dia.

Aku ingat lagi peristiwa kami di Jelawang, di mana Shukor di antara orang pertama yang perasan seluar yang dipakai oleh salah seorang peserta telah koyak sehingga menampakkan keseluruhan punggungnya. Dan kebetulan seluar dalam yang dipakai bercorak harimau bintang. Shukor dalam diam telah membuat bunyi ‘AAAAUUUMMMM’ seperti harimau sebagai isyarat yang seluar peserta itu tadi telah koyak.

Ingat lagi satu ketika, masa tu Shukor di uji ALLAh SAW, hanya dengan kesilapan orang lain, Shukor menanggung akibatnya. Kami berkumpul memberi kata semangat dan perangsang buat Shukor. Ingat lagi malam itu kami berkumpul di rumah arwah Along, mencari jalan penyelesaian bagi membantu Shukor. Alhamdullillah, kebenaran berpihak di pihak yang benar. Maka Shukor bebas dari sebarang pertuduhan.

Aku ingat lagi, beberapa ketika sebelum Shukor mendirikan rumahtangga, kami dikejutkan dengan berita yang Along sakit. Hampir setiap hari kami ke hospital melawat Along, namun satu malam aku dikejutkan dengan panggilan telepon dari Shukor, dengan nada sebak memberitahu yang Along telah kembali kepada penciptaNYA. Berita itu merupakan satu tamparan hebat buat Shukor kerana dia sangat rapat dengan arwah Along. Dapat kurasakan perasaan Shukor kehilangan seorang sahabat karib yang membesar bersama-sama dengannya.

Banyak kenangan kami bersama-sama ketika aktif dalam Xtreme. Sekarang beg pun dah digantung, kasut pun dah naik reput rasanya. Bila ditanya kenapa Shukor dah tak aktif bercamping, terngiang-ngiang ayat keramat Shukor di telinga aku;

‘Cik Terompah, bukan aku takut bini, tapi bini tak takut pada aku”…

Kepada seorang teman, sahabat, adik,
Shukor Salleh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU.
Semoga allah memanjatkan usia, memberi kebahgiaan di dunia dan di akhirat, memurahkan rezeki, mewarnai lagi kehidupan berumahtangga dengan anak-anak yang ramai dan berani-beranilah sikit dengan cicak tu. Semoga persahabatan ini akan terus kekal selama-lamanya, Insyaallah.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CICAKMAN....