EmmaGoodEgg

A Good Start To The Day

Iman so cute and better than coffee.

The Adventures of Super Grrrl

Super Grrrl Baby Z goes...

up, up, up, up and

awaaaaaay! 

Whilst Baby Iman watches and learns...

Wedding Weekend

Last weekend saw me in family wedding mode.  This mode is prevalent in Brunei.  You know, where you all wear the same colour (or even material) because there is a colour scheme or uniform for the family of the bride/groom, and helping out like putting the eggs in Bunga Telors as gifts for the guests, and of course, Karaoke all night long.  It was my cousin A'en's wedding and it was a simple and pretty affair.  The bride, Imaan, is from East Malaysia, so her family came down for the wedding.  Because the bride is not from here, all the functions were done at my aunt's.

Wedding Dais

There was the Nikah (solemnisation ceremony) on Friday afternoon, together with the Hantar Berian (where the couple present gifts to each other).  The colour scheme was maroon and so we were all a bright sea of that kind of shade.  The afternoon teatime food was from the restaurant in front of the house and I found the Nasi Lemak excellent and a good call.

Red Sea

On Saturday morning/afternoon saw the family boiling many, many eggs for the Bunga Telors.  Then came Karaoke on Saturday evening.  The dress code was casual (with the notable exception of Auntie Chiah who initially wore a comfy laze-about baju butterfly but for the evening festivities, changed into a bolero jacket over a camisole top, all in lime green - raaapla and obviously not afraid of colour).  We had a Karaoke Competition, as you do.  There were judges and prizes and a whole lot of noise.  Thank God the neighbours are the groom's relatives.  If they weren't, we would have eggs thrown over the fence and lots of SHAAAAAADUPS.

The Aunties minus one

Karaoke Freaks

For the Wedding ceremony on Sunday, we were told that the colour scheme is gold.  In actual fact, most of us translated gold into cream/biege.  Except the husband, who insisted on taking things literally and wore gold baju melayu.  But I can't fault him for looking like a solid gold bar, he was after all, just following strict instructions.

Atypical Brunei wedding-goer outfit

Pretty faces all in a row

Pretty faces all in a row-Part Deux

It was a hot day but everything went timely and smoothly.  After food, there were PLENTY of picture taking with the bride and groom on the dais.

All in all, simple, lots of fun, no fuss - just the way we like it.

Congratulations to A'en and Imaan!

The Bride & Groom

The Aunties

Once upon a time there are 5 sisters born to a policeman and a homemaker.  They each have different characters and temperaments.  Three of them work in education, one in fashion and beauty, one in health. 

ALL of them can cha-cha, in sync, at the drop of a hat. 

Over the years their relationship with each other have been unpredictable, but as a collective force known to their nieces and nephews as The Aunties, their ability and willingness to defend their family against all kinds of aggression and their propensity for fun and laughter, is second to none.  Which is why when I say The Aunties, I mean it in the way you would say The Sopranos.

Ever since my paternal grandfather passed away and my grandmother has allowed age to take over her mind and body, The Aunties have taken over as custodian of the family.  There are times when I don't see eye-to-eye with The Aunties, but these times are few and far in between.  It is difficult to stay mad at them and this is a fact I readily admit.  They don't have the use of guns like The Sopranos to help you change your mind; instead The Aunties use the memories of great times to make you realise that it's pretty cold out there on the ledge.  And in my family, this means no family functions where you bask in the familiarity of family quirks and language, laugh until you cry, cry until you laugh and then break into song and dance in two shakes of a duck's tail.

It has not escaped me that my sisters and I have developed the same quirks and traits as The Aunties.  As do all their daughters, my cousins.  Perhaps we have the less favourable traits as well, but let it be known that The Aunties have taught all of us how to dance and laugh, and spend the best of times with family.  And they have taught us so well.

Paterfamilias

Two days ago the husband and I sacrificed lunch to visit the exhibitions held at the ICC in celebration of His Majesty's birthday.  Out of all the pictures that were placed throughout the halls, I like this one the best.  I like it the most because I know my grandfather was part of this procession.  If only the picture was wider.

I grew up to fascinating stories of grandfather's derring-do.  Of course, the stories mostly originated from my grandmother/father/aunties/uncles, so if they had glossed them over, do excuse them for thinking he was larger than life.

I am after all my grandfather's granddaughter and I believe their stories. 

My grandfather passed away in 1994.  There are times when I look within myself to find similarities between a grandfather and his granddaughter and perhaps I will never have the occasion to take a bullet for this country, but me and To' Bah, we are not afraid of colours and we have a great deal of style.

Water Babies

Admittedly without any discernible talent in digital photography, I undertook the quest to capture Azimah & Rahman in flight using the ol' trusty heavy-as-a-small-brick Sony Cybershot (version: so yesterday).

Take 1 - I think I need a flash.

Take 2 - Flash on, looks better but the timing sucks.

Take 3 - Rahman's solo flight ended in a splash.

Take 4 - Ditto Azimah's.

Take 5 - Poised and ready.

Take 6 - Children in Flight...all it takes is a camera, a flash, two very happy children and a speedy finger.

Dearest Mom

I love you. 

I love how you come from humble beginnings in knowledge and possessions and studied your way to almost the pinnacle of your profession and remained the humblest woman I know.  I love that when we were young girls you would sew our Hari Raya dresses, which rivals the Mothercare frocks of today, from McCall Patterns and the best cotton that you buy from that shop in Seria.  I love that you know me inside and out, the good and the bad, the naughty and the nice, and still love me unconditionally through your laughter and your tears.  I love that you had the strength to let go of your cheating husband and step out on your own, even though you were filled with absolute terror and heartache.  I love that you have never, ever, said a cross word to the other woman.  I love that he is your first and only love.  I love how you love what you do for a living and your belief that teaching is a vocation and not to be taken lightly.  I love how you are the best example of how a civil servant should behave.  I love how you love all of our friends and open our home to them.  I love how you can cook and bake like a dream.  I love how you have absolutely no stretch-marks.  I love that you religiously watch F1, cricket, football, tennis tournaments despite never having played any of these sports.  I love that despite very strong opposition from your daughters, you love Mawi.  I love your love for all of us.  And I love how you look great for a 60-year old broad because genetically this is good for me.

Have a Happy Birthday.

Love, Emma xx    

Mentiri Delights

I go home to see my mother and my sisters (plus nephews and niece) about once a week. We would order some takeaway and bring enough food to feed an army.  The noise level increases two-fold on the days that we congregate over the dining table, eat some grub and catch up.  When I get into the car to head home later in the evening, the decrease in decibel is noticeable because there's a deafening silence and a buzz in my ear.  But I love my home in Mentiri, and my family is loved by me.

My nephews Maman and Ilham doing the Mawi jig.

The Prodigal Son Returns

Myuzim's flight came in from Singapore around 4pm this afternoon and I am just so glad he is home and breathing the same air as me.

I am however, NOT glad with the bleached hair.  Gaaaah!  J-Pop does not rule!  How can I impress this on my 14 year old?  That he is not an anime cartoon!  A friend of mine advises that hair is the least of a mothers' problems and I should be very glad it is only his hair that bugs me.  With that note, I shall allow Myuzim to keep his new hairdo.  For a few days :)

And so, here's my friend Marilyn who has funky hair and my son who also has funky hair having lunch in Singapore.

PS/  Thank you Marilyn, for taking Myuzim out to a proper lunch (I am sure he's been eating junk food the whole holiday!) and for inspiring me how to be a better mom.

Aqiqah For Iman

We had a majlis aqiqah for baby Iman this evening and the sacrificial lamb was to be had by all.  I was trying to abstain from eating the lamb for fear of making my belly ache but it looked really good, and what the hey.  We had prayers so I snuck in a prayer for my belly as well.  And I finally managed to take pictures of my two nieces, Zara and Iman to share.

Ummi and Izam's Zara Masyurah, born on the same day, same month, same chinese year as me.

Jazzy and Joy's Iman Syakeera, born on the 15th of May 2006.