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I didn’t want a lot to happen last weekend, but it did.

On Friday, from 10AM to 10.30PM, was spent visiting friends’ and friends of friends’ houses with my girls. Pictures can be viewed on Facebook. That morning itself, both my eyes decided to swell themselves up for the world to see. They made me look incredibly (and I really don’t mean this in a mean and evil way) Chinese, I think it’s the hidden one in my blood that decided to show itself on that day. Obviously loads of fun, but 12 hours of house visits can really make your Saturday a little too exhausting.

Although, I didn’t really notice until Saturday night came. I had four invites for open houses last Saturday night, excluding another one from my sister’s Ugama teacher. I’m sure everyone else had the same amount of invites, or more. First, I went to Mumtaz’s (from TSB) house, because her open house was the one that had closed early.

Then off to Lina’s (from The Company) because her house was just near to Mumtaz’s, and met up with my other colleagues. We then moved next door to Aerol’s house (funny story here too, but I’ll skip that this time). It was already close to 9PM when I decided we should get moving if we were to make it to my sister’s teacher’s house in time. I also had to make the decision to skip one of my friends’ houses. Mind you, our journey was from Kg. Tanjung Nangka to Lambak Kanan.

As soon as we arrived in Jerudong, however, I had the nastiest headache and felt the sudden need to throw up. I really didn’t feel well, and it was such a shock that I was fine one minute, and totally not the other. So we went straight home, swallowed some Panadols, and slept. Slept from 9.30PM, only to wake at 9.30AM. Twelve whopping hours of sleep. Let me tell you, that gets rid of ANYTHING.

So I was fine enough to spend my Sunday over at my little cousin’s birthday party. She just turned 8, so since she was busy with her bouncy Happy Feet slide, the older cousins decided to play SingStar on the PlayStation 2 and Taboo. Many, many laughs, especially when it was Alif’s turn to describe.

Fast forward to today (like as if I hadn’t post enough ‘daily’ nonsense), I had lunch at Faye’s open house, another former colleague, and guess who I bumped into? Read the rest of this entry »

If that ever happened to me while I was on duty, I would have gone for an emergency song break. But knowing how professional radio stations are like, they have producers there with you. Still a scary thought, though: you are in a confined space and your producer might have gone for a loo break. (!!)

Anyway.

I feel that this year’s Raya is pretty uneventful. I’m waiting for our annual Raya outing with the girls, I’m sure it’ll be bucketloads of fun! I’ve been going to open houses, and catching up with a few people, namely the friends I left at The Statutory Body (TSB from now on). It was so nice to be seeing them again, especially since the sungkai that never happened. Haha.

I also found out I’ve got a reader (besides the ones from IT department of TSB) of my blog, and he asked if I still had my back pain. I haven’t got any more severe pain, but there are still remnants of it left, and it can get pretty annoying and uncomfortable especially after long periods of sitting down (i.e. in front of the laptop in the office.) So now, I have a small pillow on my chair to cushion my back. So far, it’s working wonders.

Toodles for now. I’m off to do a fair bit of paperwork.

Seems like I was nervous for nothing. I was selected as MC for an event for the Ministry I work for, three working days before the event! It actually bothered me at first because;

• I haven’t prepared a single thing,
• It’s in Bahasa Melayu, and
• I haven’t been a formal/official MC ever even though I worked on radio for nearly three years.

Please don’t roll your eyes on the Bahasa Melayu bit, because trust me, I can’t speak it fluently. Bahasa Melayu Brunei, yes! You can count on me if you need me to speak Brunei Malay. But standard Malay? You can pay me B$500 and I won’t do it. (Actually, I will, but I’m just trying to prove a point.)

I agreed to it anyway, but with a very reluctant heart. I was so scared I was going to screw it up.

So anyway, the event was this afternoon, right after lunch, and I was there, like a headless chicken trying to get the final bits of the event into my notes. I tell you, if you want me to do something, give me ample time to prepare. Hahaha. In the end, I got it together, and lo and behold, 15 minutes before the whole thing started, I was told there was already an MC!

I was so relieved! I said, “Alhamdulillah!” I was so ready to give everything up already. (I seriously didn’t want to screw the event up! Haha.) Unfortunately, my relief was short-lived. They said it would be better with 2 MCs. Hahahaha. Oh well, I guess it was better than doing it all on your own. And it was. It passed by like it was a breeze, and I didn’t screw it up!

All right, maybe I needed major work on my intonation and it wasn’t as seamless as I wanted it to be, but we all got through it without any big mistakes! A big YEAY! for me!

Still on the topic of work, the next few weeks is going to be very, very busy week for my unit in the Ministry. Just thinking about it is making me queasy. I just hope I get through it without adding more stress lines on my face. I don’t want any stress fat getting on either. Haha. A new realization: I eat more when I’m stressed these days. I didn’t use to, but I do now. Which is sad. Heh.

I’m off for now, I think I need to relax both my mind and body. The public holiday yesterday didn’t do me any justice at all!

(Still missing the boyfriend. Stop leaving comments and pick up the phone! )

I lost a B$100 note today. It might have been gone by last night when I was out shopping with my mom and sister for kain — to make more baju kurong — or just this morning at the office. But you know what? It’s OK. Because the boyfriend called right after I had lunch. I was starting to think he had forgotten me. Hahaha. (Kidding.)

I know, losing that note means losing a substantial amount of money, considering what is left in my bank account but I’m OK with it. It might not have been mine to begin with. I mean, it’s mine as I withdrew it out of the ATM yesterday afternoon, but you know, not mine in a deeper sense. Might have not been my rezeki.

I realized the missing note right before I ordered my lunch, as I was checking if I had money in my wallet. I remembered I had $100 note in there, but when I checked, it wasn’t there. I kept ransacking through my wallet, and embarrassed myself in front of my two friends from work. Hahaha. Anyway, no note materialized, and my friends and I started to rack through my brain at how it could have happened.

Started to think that someone had stolen the note, but right now, I’m thinking, whoever stole the money, must have really needed it. Or maybe they had x-ray vision and could see through my handbag, straight through my wallet, and spotted the note. I realized I had made a mistake of leaving my handbag in the office while I was out doing other work in another room.

I was expecting my other colleagues would be there so no one would do anything like stealing, but I found out they were out for a coffee break. Oh well, my mistake. Rest assured, it won’t happen again, inshaAllah.

It’s surprising how I’m taking this so well. Yea, it’s a substantial amount of money, I know. I’m sure that it’s a blessing in disguise.

Besides, the boyfriend hasn’t forgotten about me, and called! Really excited, and can’t wait to hear from him again. (Dependent much? Hehehe.)

It’s about fifteen minutes to lunch, and I am already very hungry. Since early this morning, however, I’ve been craving for ice blended coffee with loads of whipped cream. Loads.

Had a horrible headache yesterday, after watching Narnia: Prince Caspian with the kids (read: sister and cousins). Headache aside, the movie was OK. It wasn’t great, but it’s like a filler. You know, when you don’t have anything to do, and all they show at the movies is this movie. Something like that.

Although there were a few movies I haven’t watched that I want to, like Iron Man, Speed Racer, and What Happens In Vegas, but I felt Narnia was great to watch with the kids. Plus, I already have plans with other people to watch Iron Man with. I digress.

Yea, the movie felt like a filler. Wouldn’t say it was bad either. I’ll give it a rating of 3 out of 5. Prince Caspian (right, played by Ben Barnes) was cute though. I found it funny when my cousin, who sat next to me, said that the boy who plays King Edmund was, and I quote, ‘hot’. I wouldn’t use the word ‘hot’ for King Edmund, would you?

The title really says it all. I am utterly heartbroken. My car was hit today during lunch. At Giant, nonetheless.

I have to stand up for myself and say it wasn’t my fault. What was my fault is the fact that I didn’t have a chance to stand up for myself when I had to. I was scared, my mind was everywhere, I don’t even know if I was breathing easy. I was so sad to see my car with that dent.

Here’s what happened, and I’ll try to make it really easy to understand.

It was after lunch, and I had to send my sister back home so I could get back to the office. We climbed into the car, with our typical ritual of prayer and safety belts.

I put my car into reverse, released the brake pedal, and let the car ease out of the parking spot. I turned my head left and right to see if there are any cars, oncoming or otherwise, and I saw a car, opposite to where mine was, also reversing out of a parking spot. I stopped right there and then, and was shocked that the girl driving didn’t stop! I couldn’t avoid it by going forward (there wasn’t much to move, just a few inches anyway), so I sounded the horn, real long and hard.

She looked real shocked to see my car there, but she didn’t stop. Instead, there was suddenly a crunching sound, and my sister, who had lunch with me, exclaimed, “OH MY, GOD! KA! YOUR NEW CAR!” If the situation wasn’t so tragic and the crunching sound didn’t echo my breaking heart, I would have laughed at how she had said it.

I put the car into parking, and got out. I did not move the car at all. The girl, whom I had guessed was three years younger than me, was horrified. For a moment, I was scared she might run off! But she motioned her hand towards me, as if asking me to wait, and I felt relieved. What didn’t make me happy was that she parked her car back into the parking spot.

I wanted to call the police, I really did. Because the one thing that I was taught in driving school was that whatever accident, however minor, you had to call the police. I was shook up, so I called my mom instead. I couldn’t stand up for myself, as I felt I needed someone to back me up.

The girl finally got out of her car, and approached mine. She apologized. I didn’t, because it wasn’t my fault. And she looked guilty anyway. So I was hoping she could vouch for me when her policeman father came. Instead, her mother came and convinced everyone who came to my defense (and to her daughter’s a well) that it was both parties’ fault.

I knew, deep down, I should have called the police. I knew it. I just knew it. Fact is, I just didn’t do anything about it. I didn’t follow my instinct.

Now, I couldn’t claim insurance for $#!* I have to spend a lot, as the bumper is dented, and the taillight is broken.

I am just really sad that seeing that the girl who had hit my Mazda was my neighbour. My neighbour.

Ugh. I can’t even believe I’m playing this pathetic card. I’m out. For now.

(I’ll update with picture of my poor Mazda in a bit as soon as I can, because right now, I’m mentally put down by loads of things at the moment.)

Oh my God. I am so unbelievably worn out and sunburned at the moment. I never knew I’d be the latter, but I am, and it hurts. I’ve never been sunburned, so it’s a new, not to mention alien, feeling. It’s like having the outermost skin of your forearms being stripped down with hot wax and left to heal. Or something.

Thankfully it’s just my arms. I really don’t know what I’ll do if it’s on my nose, or anywhere facial. Erh, shivers just went down my spine.

So it was a busy weekend. Pyjama Night Out last night was a lot of fun. Seeing people in their pyjamas was the highlight of the night. And a certain someone was sobbing during the movie. LOL. I could demonstrate it once again, if you want, but only in real life and with the someone there. Kidding.

The movie made me cry and laugh again. I still believe that’s the best movie I’ve watched this year so far.

The movie ended at about 9PM, but we ate a bit and talked to a few people here and there. I was talking to Nonnie’s boyfriend about something we had in common, and I hope I haven’t discouraged him in any way at all. I was just sharing experience, and I’d rather he has a different one. A pleasant one.

Maurina, Atul, Reeda, and myself also had a discussion with a Brunei Times journalist ranging from voluntarism, to culture, to teaching! It brought us to an hour before midnight! Interesting.

Now that the Internet is properly up and running, I feel like posting a picture up from the night. The picture is from Nonnie’s camera, but there are more from Maurina’s camera, and I’m going to remind her soon to send them over. Don’t ask me if I took any pictures, because I didn’t. I haven’t charged the battery to my camera in weeks now, and I had forgotten to charge the day before. So just take a look at this one, yes?

I notice now that my hair was covering one of my eyes. Haha. I will leech and have more pictures soon. Haha.

Now. The IT Picnic of The Statutory Body was today at Seri Kenangan beach, and it was so much fun! Besides the sunburn, of course. I wish I had pictures, but I don’t. However, I think it was just one of those things that I will miss so much about working there. And again, it is the same thing: my newly-made friends.

Sigh.

What a sad note for an ending of an upbeat post. Will update again soon!

It’s tiresome to be a girl. Especially when it’s that time of the month. IT TIRES ME OUT. Yes, boys, even on a normal day when it requires no deep thinking, no heavy lifting whatsoever. I don’t know why it is exhausting. The discomfort, maybe? *shrugs*

A busy week for me this week, two weekdays taken up by Project Management training (which I think will be uber-useful when I work elsewhere), another day baking cakes and making chocolate-covered pretzels, my weekend will be taken up by the Pyjama Movie Night at The Empire (she has booked the tickets, and she will be coming with) on Saturday, and a picnic out with my colleagues at Seri Kenangan beach on an early Sunday morning. Siuk eh. I’ve never really had a busy week before. Hee.

OK. On to another topic, I just think I should share this thought with you guys: Why is it that when I read someone’s blog, I expect them to sound like the way they write, but I’m surprised when they don’t. Sometimes I end up pleasantly surprised, and just tonight, for the first time, I was disappointed. I was surprised to find out, and to add to that, I’m surprised that I had the thought, “This is how you sound like?!”, in my head. It’s rather disturbing, this.

I don’t normally judge people by their blogs. No, that’s a lie. I judge them, but I keep it to myself until I meet them face-to-face and match them with the initial judgment. I’m usually wrong when I judge them by their blogs. Which is great, because I hate thinking that people are like scum between toes. (Quoting The Little Rascals.)

Hey, guys.

Guess what? I’m getting an iPod Touch. I’m sure I had some not-so-great opinions about it, but I was also sure that I was going to swallow my words. As I always do. (Nya orang tua, jangan kuat mengucapkan, kebalikan jadinya!!) So it’s happening. I’m buying one. I was about to buy one this afternoon, after work, but work hours got a bit stretched, and I also had to drop by my aunt’s house for a bit, so I couldn’t make it to AV Electronics, in Kiulap, in time.

QQ(eStore?), also in Kiulap, didn’t have it in stock as well, and I had to order and wait a week. Which is not good. I hate waiting. I hated waiting for my Mazda to be released (but it was a good wait), and I simply hate waiting.

What I also hate at the moment, is how I have to use the UBD/ITB road to get home because Giant’s collosal opening was this morning. Seriously. It’s like the big chunk of a store (which is smack dab in the middle of residential area) was going to disappear if the whole of Brunei didn’t go there on its grand opening!!

I want to go there, but not today, or maybe not this month. I have to let the hype die down. I HAVE TO. No matter how cheap everything is there. I did gawk at the fact that they sell a bag of rice for B$9.90, though. And the air mattress at less than B$15. But I can’t be bothered to queue up just for that. I can’t even be bothered to wait in the long queue to get home! Why? Because I hate waiting.

So Giant will have to wait. I won’t. I’m going to AV Electronics to buy an iPod Touch. Which, I forgot to mention, is all Mumtaz’s fault. She has one, and she was just showing me one of the Tag Heuer watches that she had her eyes on, and she let me use her iPod Touch. I fell for it. So I’m buying one.

Oh. To think that people are flocking over Giant because it’s opening its massive doors, so Gadong must be a bit void of cars, BOY, WAS I EVER WRONG. Which makes me wonder, see, just how many are there living in tiny Brunei? It took me half an hour just to get a parking space. And ten minutes for me to walk from my parked car to my lunch. And I have 75 minutes lunch break.

It doesn’t help that today was payday for Government servants. (Mine, to my surprise, was out on Thursday.)

I have a barbecue to go to in Jerudong, so I’ll update again some time soon. Bye!

*YAWN*

I feel like I’ve got most rest today than the past three weeks. Thanks to the public holiday, I get to have a rest. Before I fly off to Singapore tomorrow morning. Which, I have to get up early for. Argh.

What’s ticking me off most is that, I HAVEN’T PACKED!

It’s, like, I have so many things to do before I start packing. For example, blog-hopping, replying to comments, writing up a post, cutting my nails, charging my phone battery, charging my digital camera battery, cleaning up my room, getting enough water intake so I don’t go hydrated in this hot, hot weather.

You know, many things.

I must stop procrastinating and jump ‘packing’ up the list. I have to do it now. Before my mom screams at me.

I miss my dad. This is going to be the first trip without him. And we went to his resting place this morning.. I feel a slight stab at where I thought I had gone numb.

Small hiatus, I’ll be posting again once I come back from my Singapore trip. Be safe.