I find it disturbing that just the first day into the examination and I have successfully achieved The Haggard look. Burok kan. Oh 2nd Dec, di mana dikau. Come quick please. I miss you like I’ve never missed before. Haha. Nyek ah Hannah.

So my last paper is on Monday at 5pm. My second last paper is on Monday at 9am. Seronoknye.

Anyway guess what people. My MOTHER, is addicted to PSP. Can you believe thaat? It’s my bro’s. He got it coz he did quite well for his PSLE, so dad got him one. But so far, who have I been seeing playing with PSP? More of the mum, definitely. She’s cute, I know. :D

Speaking of PSLE results, so we all know about how the Madrasahs fared (stale news la Hannah. People already moving on to MUMBAI and BANGKOK. But but but I exam mah! *buat muke kesian*).

So am I happy with the results? Yes, I am. Hamdan lillah. Am I contented already? No, but lain syakartum laaziidannakum. So, alhamdulillah. :)

I came across a blog (thanks to syasan aka my asyosye). Macam2 emosi ada bila baca.. It’s not so much on the blogger’s post on the PSLE results, but the comments it drew. Hebat hebat belaka.

Someone said she is “damn sick” of the “lame excuse” used by Madrasah students in order to justify their lack of performance.

Hmmmm.

I guess one needs to be part of the system to know how ‘heavy’ it is. I agree that this should not be the justification to the many failures time and again, and I have seen and experienced for myself how it is indeed possible to still excel in the system. However, I have to bear in mind that not everyone has the same privileges and opportunities to excel as how some of us did. I am NOT talking about intellectual or mental capabilities (in this case baru nak mengaku diri as a soci student. haha), but just the different range in cultural capital, ability to integrate into the school culture and so on. So to deny that the combination academic + ukhrawi subjects as being very ‘heavy’ is unfair, because I don’t just speak for myself.. I have to consider the others too.

It is for a fact that due to the extra number of subjects, the time spent on one subject is lesser. Speaking of PSLE level je, how many subjects does a national school student studies, and is being tested on? Compared to a Madrasah student, I can confidently say that in general the Madrasah students memang lagi banyak lah kan..

There also seems to be an understanding that Madrasahs do not teach humanities. I do not know of other Madrasahs, but we did history (although sampai sec 2/3 je) in Maarif and we took combined humanities for our O’levels (geography + social studies). And I know that other Madrasahs like Wak Tanjong, Arabiah and Irsyad pun buat Geography jugak..

What about CCAs? During my time, we did have CCAs ah. Like clubs and stuffs. I was in klab bahasa in Maarif and Naadillughoh in MWTI. (Boring seh Hannah. haha!) We have the activities every Saturday but I have to admit that it is not given the same weightage as in the national schools.

But really, I can see that the Madrasahs have been working hard in making improvements and progress in their system. Take Maarif for example, it has been 4-5 years since I left the school and just many many changes have taken place. And I know that the other Madrasahs have been striving to make changes too.

But then again, how big a change can you make with limited funds? I know this is yet another “lame” excuse that people hear of time and again, but hey, that IS another bulk of the problem. And I’ll have to say, whether you like or not; take it or leave it. Yes, probably some of the Madrasahs have not been using their already limited funds as wisely as possible, but lack of funds is seriously still a nagging issue. You need experts in revamping the system, you need to equip the school with adequate facilities, you need to train the teachers, you need to give the students a more holistic education.. YOU NEED FUNDS.

Haih. Honestly, it is very tiring to be speaking of this issue time and again (since I was in, say, sec 3?); especially if one is to take our position in arguments. I am not trying to be all emotional and ask people to stop their criticisms of Madrasahs. By all means, tafaddhal. In fact, some Madrasah students I know are more critical of the system than some of my non-Madrasah friends. But the thing is – I know it sounds cliché – I believe that if one wants to crticise, one should always do so CONSTRUCTIVELY. I’m not trying to point fingers at anyone, but sometimes, you can just sense the hatred that accompanies the comment. Why? No really, why?

Yes. This ‘achievement’ of the Madrasahs might seem kecik and insignifcant and ‘not there yet’ and everything else negative. We all know that. Compared to the NATIONAL standard, we are still lacking behind (although it will be VERY interesting to compare the overall results with MALAY students from the National schools). Yes. I can look you in the eyes and say yes, we still have a long way to go.

But let me kindly remind you that we’ve come a long way from where we were too. From the dumping ground for ‘unsuccessful’ Malay students to where we are now, we’ve made significant and probably even drastic changes. Growing up in a Madrasah, I’ve went through the phases of what I call the different eras of the Madrasahs and how people look at us. It has been a long journey, and I am thanking God for allowing me to grow and learn from this enlightening journey.

Madrasahs need to step up. They cannot afford to let even an ounce of complacency to creep in. Enough with inefficient managements, exploitation of power distribution and whathaveyous. It’s time to be geared up for success.

Yup. Madrasahs should not start “blowing their trumpets” just yet. It is still too soon. But surely, a pat on the back and an encouraging “Congrats, now let’s conquer greater heights already,” will not be too much to ask for?

Have you ever experienced the paradox of wanting something very very verrrrrry much, but yet, you’re not pinning any hopes on it?

Macam nak sangat sangat benda tu, tapi bila fikirkan the practicality of it, patah semua harapan. You start to think of the things you will have to go through in order to achieve that goal. The thing is, it’s not that you’re not willing to go through it, but you simply think there is NO WAY you can do it. No way.

Oh I know the feeling only too well.

It’s impossible, really. That thing I have in mind. Mustahil lah memang. Macam nak suruh matahari terbit dari barat je. *laugh2* *snort2*

Eh?

Noticed something? What did I just say? The sun rising from the WEST? Is it REALLY impossible, umm sofiyyah?

“Tidak akan terjadi kiamat…hingga matahari terbit dari barat. Apabila matahari terbit dari barat, maka berimanlah semua manusia. Maka saat itulah ketika iman seseorang tidak bermanfa’at lagi bagi dirinya yang belum beriman sebelum itu, atau dia (belum) mengusahakan kebaikan dalam masa imannya. (HR. Bukhari 13 : 81-82)”

So saying that it is impossible for matahari untuk terbit dari barat is akin to saying it is impossible for Qiyamah tu happen. Wa na’uuzubillahi min dzaalik.

So my point is? Nothing is impossible if Allah wills it to happen. Mungkin dengan segala kemampuan yang ada pada diri kita now, memang macam impossible. Sebab we do not have the power to change hati manusia, mendekatkan yang jauh, menukar keadaan supaya sesuai dengan kemahuan kita, meninggikan yang rendah dan sebagainya. Tapi Allah kan ada? Nothing is impossible for Allah. And if Allah wants to give it to us, why, who is there to stop Him? Allah says kun, fayakuun. :)

I’m not saying that we should all hope for things which are like super difficult to get all the time. Although you can tell that I disagree with Bordieu’s concept of habitus in that sense. Haha. Ok joking. But what I’m trying to say is, I should not, EVER, EVER, equate MY OWN WEAKNESSES AND LIMITED ABILITIES with that of Allah’s. “Oh this is impossible (Because HANNAH can never make it happen), so it never will happen (even if God wants it to happen?).”

It’s like imposing my own weaknesses on God, don’t you think? Na’uzubillah.

I know sometimes I don’t mean it THAT way when I say it. But I have to bear in mind that I am responsible for what I say. So I won’t want to be saying something which is like, questioning the authority of God even if I totally do not mean it, betul tak? :)

So what am I suggesting? If I have something I really want, but one which I think is impossible to achieve, angkatlah tangan. Angkatlah tangan after every solat and ask it from Allah. Letakkan harapan. Bukan pada the thing I want, but pada Allah. Kalau dapat, I must not forget to thank Allah. Kalau tak dapat, I must not forget to thank Allah too because I know God knows better what is best for me. Lagi pun kan dah do’a “Rabbanaa Aatinaa fiddunyaa hasanah, wa fil aakhirati hasanah, wa qinaa ‘azaabannaar.” So mesti confident yang apa yang we get adalah hasanah (kebaikan) di dunia dan akhirat. (Hmm. I’m starting to sound preachy ek?? Sorry about that. :D)

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So since we’re on the topic of do’a.. I want to share some tips on adab2 do’a. Bear with me ya.

1. Dari Ibn Abbas dia berkata: Pada suatu hari aku berada di belakang Rasulullah, lalu baginda berkata: Wahai anak kecil! Aku ingin mengajarkan kamu satu kalimah (nasihat). Jagalah (perintah dan larangan) Allah, nescaya Allah akan menjaga kamu. Jagalah (perintah dan larangan) Allah, nescaya kamu akan dapati Allah dihadapanmu. Bila kamu memohon, maka mohonlah dari Allah, dan jika kamu meminta pertolongan mintalah dari Allah. Ketahuilah bahawa jika umat ini bersatu untuk memberikan manfaat kepada kamu, maka sesungguhnya mereka tidak dapat berbuat demikian melainkan apa yang telah ditulis oleh Allah kepada kamu. Dan jika mereka berkumpul untuk memudaratkanmu, nescaya mereka tidak dapat berbuat demikian melainkan apa yang telah ditulis oleh Allah ke atas kamu.[1]

I am weird. Really I am. I loveee longans and lychees – the canned ones that is. Yang peliknya, I cannot stand the fresh ones. I hate the smell and I won’t ever touch them. Apa lagi to eat them. I just can’t stand it, and I don’t know why.

I can’t eat bananas too. The fresh ones. Macam boleh muntah kalau paksa. But I love my mum’s jemput2 pisang, I like pengat pisang, and also goreng pisang (or is it pisang goreng?).

Wait. There’s more. I don’t really eat fish. I can eat it, but it really depends on the way it is being cooked and what type of fish it is. Why? I can’t really stand the fishy smell. But get this, I super love tuna. And I won’t eat epok2 unless it’s SARDINES.

Laugh people, laugh.

Now, I think my weirdness has extended to not just food, but also my preference for a soulmate as well. I want him to be jealous. And I know that what constitutes jealousy is subjective, but whatever your standard is, you can be assured that what I mean by jealousy is like SUPER JEALOUS.

Yes, SUPER DUPER JEALOUS. Kalau sampai tahap possessive pun tak ape. HEEH.

Why, you might ask. You see, I am a terribly jealous person as well. I cannot imagine my husband having lunch with a female friend – just the two of them. Or talking on the phone for hours to just talk about, well, nothing but everything.

(:

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“Kalau aku melihat seorang laki-laki bersama isteriku..,” kata Sa’ad bin ‘Ubadah berandai-andai. “Tentu akan ku pukul dengan pedang sehingga ia tak bisa mengeluarkan suara lagi!”

(Brutal nye, some might say. Tapi ape Nabi s.a.w kata?)

Sabdanya: “Apakah kalian heran terhadap perkataan Sa’ad? Demi Allah, aku lebih cemburu daripada dia, DAN ALLAH LEBIH CEMBURU DARIPADAKU!” (Al-Bukhari dan Muslim).

Yeah bebeh. I liiike very. Tapi ade orang kata saya ni gile sikit suke yang macam tu. Orang kata, memanglah perlu ade jealous2 tapi takkan sampai macam tuh. Kalau dorang nak ade dinner berdua-duaan dekat some restaurant pun takpelah. Kan dorang kawan, baru balek dari tempat yang sama. Normal je tu. Apa yang nak dikecohkan sangat. Hmmm. Kalau dia ‘matair’ saya, maybe lah tak jealous sangat. Tapi kalau dialah SUAMI ataupun yang saya yakin jadi BAKAL suami saya.. tanaaaaaaaaaaaak! (so cnnt ah ade matae. jealous sangat. huwahuwahuwa).

KENAPA, UMM SOFIYYAH, KENAPA???

Sebab saya teringat satu hadeeth ni. Saya selalu baca hadeeth tu. Tapi saya tak past kesahihan hadeeth tu. Ape pun, ianya berbunyi lebih kurang begini:

isteri yang menemani suaminya makan, memegang mesra tangannya dan merenung dengan penuh kasih ke matanya..

pastu adelah reward dia. tapi dah tak ingat ape. heh -_-”

Soo.. So I can’t imagine if he eats with another woman, just the two of them, then they talked to each other, occasionally, accidentally holding each other’s gaze.. laughing at each other’s joke.. staying a minute too long after lunch and stuffs.. ehem. There’s a wife for him to tease, to joke with, to hold his gaze and let it linger lovingly. So tak payah buat dekat orang lain k?

And get this, I do not, at all, think it’s ok for a MARRIED MAN to engage in ’naughty’ teasings or just speaking in a FLIRTATIOUS manner, walaupun subtly. REALLY, IT IS NOT NOT OK.

Nabi kata, apa yang ada wanita lain, ada juga pada isterimu.. jadi pulanglah dan dapatkanlah ia.. :) (Of course, we know that obviously women are NOT the same. But think about the psychological side to this.. Hmm)

So men. Nanti dah kahwin don’t whine and go tsk-tsk and keep comparing your wife with other women hokey? :)

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But of course, there are unreasonable reasons to be jealous as well. That I must remind myself to avoide. Say he’s out for a da’wah purpose, or business matters, or just to have a ‘lepak session’ with his guy friends.. Why should I be jealous of that kan? :)

“Sesungguhnya ada di antara cemburu yang disukai Allah, dan ada pula cemburu yang dibenci Allah.” (HR Ahmad, Abu Dawud and An-Nasa’i).

So yes, one should be jealous and all, but one should understand we need not to be together EVERY SINGLE BREATHING MOMENT. We do need our space once a while. Besides, absence makes the heart fonder, they say :)

But really, I think we can all do with a little more jealousy. Understand your rights, understand this EXCLUSIVE right that is for YOU and YOU, as a wife and a husband. That’s why you paid her mahar, that’s why you took the oath from her wali, that’s why you provide her with what she needs and protect her with all your might.. and you, that’s why you agreed to be his lawful wedded wife, that’s why you agreed to be the mother to his children, that’s why you gave him your loyalty. :)

Memang zaman mungkin berubah, dan interaction between a man and a woman semakin lama semakin longgar. Yes, sometimes we need to be understanding and not make things difficult. But selagi mana yang boleh, why not avoide it, betul ke? :)

Some might argue, kalau hidup ni penuh dengan jealousy then that means we will be living without any peace ah. Asal suami jauh je, hati gelisah. Asal isteri jauh je, hati tak tenang. In doubt all the time. Gitu ke?

Entah ye. But to me, terbalik pulak. You see, that’s why I want a jealous husband. Why? Ok. I’m jealous, betul? Jadi I have specific things in mind which I know I do not want him to do with other women. And knowing that HE is jealous as well, so I know what are the things he will not want ME to be doing with another man. Jadi? Jadi it works both ways. You don’t do things which will make me jealous, and I won’t too. And if that’s the case, even when you’re apart, you know your partner akan jaga diri dia baik2. Hati pun jadi tenang. So takde rase gelisah, cume rindu.sayang.rindu.sayang.rindu.sayang. LOL. ok ok you get the drift. :)

So I PERSONALLY think, being jealous, secara halal, can facilitate masing2 untuk menjaga diri LILLAAHI TA’ALA.. and then for each other:)

And of course, it has to be mutual:)

Ingat, Nabi saw said, whatever another woman has, your wife has it too. :) (Ya Rijaal.. Repeat this mantra to self every night ok? Hahahaha.)

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Coz life is not all the time in colours.

But black and white can be pretty cool too:)

I’m super exhausted but I just feel like blogging this.

Thank you for coming all the way to school on a Sunday morning just so I can do what I’m supposed to – and it doesn’t even concern you.

Thank you for letting me sleep a little while more despite the fact that you ended up having to wait for me.

 =)

Because I want to have more MacD’s breakfast with you. (Hopefully they won’t run out of maple syrup again.)

Because I want to take a stroll around the deserted part of campus (only this time, I want it to be a STROLL and not fastened, quick paces in a bid to find a place for us to study and charge our lappies).

Because I want to have longer individual studying sessions (but together) in the comfortable and super silent discussion rooms (we’ll book it again, getting it right the next time around ok?); so you can finally make full use of your sweater, compass and sejadah.

Because I want to sit at the forum with you, overlooking lovers’ park and laugh and laugh at things only you and I know about.

Because I want to have more MacFlurry’s and Chocolate Sundaes with you while again, laughing at things only you and I know about.

Because I want you to have a locker so that I can leave you more notes and chocolates at random times, and maybe even some dead cockroaches.

Because I want to walk down the stairs from Techno Edge when it is pitch dark and we had to slowly make our way down while talking about hantus and cockroaches.

Because I actually enjoyed the long bus ride home after bidding you farewell and immediately receiving an sms from you the moment I alighted from the bus. Yes, you be the PM and do just what you told me you wanted to, ok? ;)

So here’s a post for you. For the times we had tadi, and more to come, insyaAllah :)

Love you. Fillah:)

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I am suddenly reminded of a couple I personally know. They already have a son, and then God gave them a daughter. Unfortunately, the daughter was tested with several physical and internal organ abnormalities that she had to drink milk from a special tube all the time. And she was practically immobile, unable to respond, unable to cry even. Doctors told them from the start, that it’s just a matter of time before she’ll be taken away; there’s just simply no hope for her. But they accepted her, and waited for God to take her away.

And you know what the mother said? “My only wish is for her to be able to call me mother one day.”

But God knows better, and He took her only to place her at a better place soon after. But God let them have her longer than the time the doctors had stipulated.

And guess what, a year later or so, the couple was blessed with another baby. This time a son. Big, beautiful eyes, the loveliest smile, curly hair, and the least troublesome to look after. He certainly brought happiness to the family. A well-deserved happiness. May Allah them bless all. And the baby who was beautiful in her own way.

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Patah tumbuh, hilang berganti.

Yes, don’t lose heart over a loss. Sometimes, God takes it away from you only to give you something better.

But sometimes, there simply isn’t something which is better. So you’ll just have to wait for the day it’ll be yours. Yes.. Wait. :)

Laugh and sing, but while we’re apart
Don’t give your heart to anyone
And don’t forget who’s taking you home
And in whose arms you’re gonna be
So darling, save the last dance for me.

The very last dance.. For me.

Takde kene mengene I know. I just like it. Heh.

I’m sorry. It’s that time of the SEMESTER.

xoxo.

When the going gets tough, when you feel your chest heavy with worries and sorrows, your head spinning with unresolved issues.. You know you’re not alone.

And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad saw) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near. I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (2:186)

To all those facing some difficulties one way or another, may these beautiful anaasheed provide some solace like it did to me. Tengok tau. Jangan tak tengok :)

Ghurabaa’.. The ’strangers’.. Because strange is good :)

You are never alone by Zain Bikha.. A very soothing and enlightening song, trust me:)

The man blessed with a superb voice.. Mishary Alafasy.. A beautiful nasheed on asmaaul husna sung in a refreshing manner.

Sabr and Shukr by Zain Bikha. Another great song with superb lyrics.. :)

Lailaaha illallaah by Mishariy Alafasy.. Simply wonderful. :)

Ilalliqa’ , insyaAllah:)

Eh sorry la eh. I lame sikit kat toilet tadi. anyway, you da consider the previous suggestions? Ok, before I propose to you dengan suggestions2 yang lain, ape kata you tengok these complaints from people yang tak hire I jadi wedding planner dorang. Ehhh. I bukan nak burok kan siapa2, I cuma nak share je the problems yang dorang face kan. Jadi kita ni tak buat the same mistakes bile planning for your wedding nanti, ye? And don’t worry lah. I tak include nama mana2 bridal yang dorang pegi tu. *smiles*

COMPLAINT NO 1: “The cake. Who on earth got the cake for me? Yes, it was a three-tiered wedding cake. It was beautiful. But guess what, that’s just about it. I was advised against choosing chocolate cake and what not because it won’t hold for long. So I had fruit cake instead. And it wasn’t really nice. So yeah, we cut and distributed the cake at the end of the day, but we know like 3/4 of it got wasted. My $360 wasted just like that. And that’s considered cheap for a wedding cake, they said. $360 for a cake so that I can action2 cut the cake with my husband and pose for pictures? Might as well I photoshop the cake there. Seriously. With $360 I might as well get myself two gorgeous nightwears, or tens of beneficial books or something else yang lagi worth it. But I was tricked into spending it on the cake instead. Man, I’m still very sore about the cake.”

COMPLAINT NO 2: “I tak paham pasal hantaran ni. Yang wajibnya, adalah maharnya. MAHAR. Hantaran tu sebagai hadiah kan? I tanye you, mahar rate yang wajib kat Singapore sekarang berapa? ‘Market rate’ for hantaran pulak berapa? I don’t understand. If hantaran is ‘hadiah’ for the brides, then why must it be based on her education level, her social status and her family background? Say I have a group of friends whom I want to give gifts to. Do I buy the gifts according to their socio-economic status? No. I give them what I sincerely want to give. Nothing more, nothing less. And if hantaran is hadiah, then why are we putting a price tag on hantarans? Macam minta orang belikan hadiah yang berharga $50. Takleh kurang! Malu kan?

So tell me, why was everyone pressurising me to increase the hantaran I had to ask from my husband’s side? Why why why? I know it burdens him so. He’s trying to be independent, paying everything using his own money and not troubling his parents. But yet I had to make things difficult for him and ask for things which he is not able to provide for easily. Some people tried to convince me by saying if he loves me, then he’ll do all he can to meet the demand. But then it makes me feel like his love for me is worth whatever my hantaran is!

It’s just the whole cultural perception yang hantaran mesti mahal2. Kalau tak it’s something embarrassing. I tell you what’s embarrassing; when my husband terpaksa borrow from his own parents or anyone else just to pay that ridiculously high hantaran and everything else. I ask you, what is wrong if the hantaran is say, 3k? Does it reflect something very lowly about the couple and their family?  

And I succumbed to the pressure of high hantaran. And guess what, it didn’t make ME happy at all. I felt sorry for my husband instead. And for myself, because it seems like I’ve forgotten the fact that I’m his wife and it doesn’t do me any good to know that he had to go through so much hardship and borrowed so much to pay for MY HANTARAN. I don’t know if any other wife would feel it’s something to be proud of and boast about, but I certainly don’t feel that way.”

COMPLAINT 3:“I don’t understand. I didn’t pay you to balas dendam of your watercolor-deprived childhood on my face. I didn’t pay to have people go “lainnye muke kaaaau” once they see me on my wedding day. No no, I didn’t pay to be disfigured on my wedding day. But you did just that, mak andam. You did just that.

You tampal bulu mata bedek on my eyelashes and boasted on the horrible eyeshadow or eye sockets or whatever that you did on my eyes. You said I looked soooo pretty. I thought I looked like Kumar. You slapped layers and layers of foundation on my face that I could not feel my own skin when I touched my face. Then you claimed I looked pale and so you were generous with the blusher on my cheeks. Ahh now you have rosy cheeks, you said. Well, honestly, I thought I looked like someone just slapped me real hard. And then to finish off your great masterpiece, you poured half a bottle of lip gloss on my lips that if I forget myself and laughed a little more than I should, I would have lip gloss on my teeth too.

I told you I thought it was too much. I said I wanted a natural-looking make-up. You told me this is considered ‘natural’, and you told me that it would look good in pictures. Being the naive me, I believed you. But really mdm mak andam, if that’s ‘natural’ to you, then your ‘heavy’ must be out of this world. And guess what mak andam, I didn’t look good in the pictures either. I looked different, yes, but not ‘good’. Although yeah, people told me I looked pretty (maybe they were just being nice). But really, I just thought I looked different. I know people say that you have to look different on your wedding day, but does being different necessarily equates being pretty? I know I am ugly but even I don’t deserve this mak andam.

And you even suggested and tried to convince me to pluck my bushy eyebrows. Luckily I didn’t buy it or I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

COMPLAINT NO 4: “The baju. You know how torturing it was? The super tight corset, the body-hugging baju which showed my corset-made sexy figure? I looked pretty yes, but it sure didn’t make my husband happy.

And my tudung. You said they were stylish, but they were either revealing my neck or showing the shape of my bosoms. God asked me to cover my ‘aurat, mak andam. Not just my hair.

You said I looked so gorgeous that day, but I felt sinful. You tried to pacify me by saying that it’s only ONE day in my life that I’m dressing up myself this way, but think about it mak andam; that was the ONE day in which I officially started my journey as a wife. And you helped me to taint it with sins I could’ve easily avoided if I wanted to. Thanks mak andam, thanks. I paid you for that ke ape.

You have to understand one thing, mak andam. I am not at all pretty, sexy, or sweet and alluring; and I myself know this only too well. But what I have is exclusivity. I am exclusive, mak andam. There’s only one person who has the ‘all access’ pass. And if he’s a good man, he’ll appreciate the exclusivity I’ve reserved just for him. So don’t bother trying to ‘beautify’ me. Even if you’ve done a good job, what matters is my ‘beauty’ in the long run. And my ‘beauty’ when I’m away from the public eye. Yes, mak andam. I’m referring to my exclusive ‘beauty’, and not the beauty which you publish ever so proudly as your ‘masterpiece’ in your mak andam packages.”

Haaa. You da baca complaints tu sume kan? You think about it dulu, ok? ;)

p/s: complaint2 di atas adalah rekaan semata2 (see people, i make disclaimers if they are not real! :p). tapi banyak kene mengenenye dengan yang sedang hidup dan bernafas sekarang ini.

p/p/s: doakan ye exams yang bakal mendatang. syukran semua:)

Helo~ welcome to my site. I am your alternative wedding planner, Miss Nurhannah. I know you all are just spoilt for choice kan when it comes to choosing the grandest, the gerek-est and the ape2-est wedding planners out there. But please do consider me as I have refreshing ideas jugak lah. *main2 kening*

Okeh, I have yet to come out with a very detailed plan la. I nak kene tengok jugak selera you kan. So I’m giving you a few just very general suggestions and why I think it’s good, and then we can discuss on the things you are interested in. ok gitu?

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My Theme: Jimat ongkosnya, happy hatinya, jaga syariatnya!

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Suggestion 1 : You tanak consider nikah-ing at masjid? I believe there are a few masjids in Singapore (if not all), which are willing to provide such a service. I have had a friend’s cousin client (ehemmm) who nikah-ed at Masjid Assyakirin and then used the hall for the reception. I pun da survey2 other weddings yg buat kat masjid ni, and I found out that in Malaysia they do this quite often. Dari a few blogs, I saw pictures and accounts on how the nikahs were conducted. Habis je nikah, while the guests were congratulating the wife, there was a husband who terus solat sunat dua rakaat tanda kesyukuran gitu (let’s go: awww. hehe). Ada pulak yang isterinya jadi ma’mum sekali. So then she kissed his hands after solat. So yeah, the first time they touched was after that 2 rakaat of solat sunat in the masjid right after nikah. (eeeeeeverybody now: awwwwwww :p).

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Lepas tu guests sume dijemput makan kat some hall in the masjid. Kenapa bagus nye buat masjid ni? banyak. pertama, kita sahut seruan untuk menjadikan masjid ni bukan sahaja tempat kite sembahyang jema’ah atau bile kite tidak di rumah, tapi jugak tempat ’sosial’ yang hold majlis2 seperti ini. kedua, kita pun tolong masjid indirectly kan dengan membayar sewa, instead of bayar HDB. ketiga, kita indirectly menarik orang datang ke masjid. mana tau dengan datang masjid tu somehow terbuka ke hati sesiapa yang datang tu untuk lebih kerap datang masjid ke. u’ll never noe, u’ll never noe.

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Suggestion 2: Ok. Tak kiralah you nak buat kat venue mana, tapi why not considering combine majlis? Kat sini I da survey, memang tak ramai yang buat, tapi ade jugak lah. Ape faedahnya combine majlis ni? K macam ni. You pikir eh, jimat ongkos satu la kan, tapi juga, antara tujuan pernikahan ni kan nak menyalurkan silaturrahim antara dua family semua2 tu kan? So kalau you buat majlis dekat satu tempat yang sama, your family boleh kenal2 dgn each other. sedara bride boleh kenal2 sedara groom, kawan2 bride boleh kenal sape family members groom. Cute kaan?

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Lagi satu, kalau combine majlis, lagi senang sikit untuk pengantin nak interact2 dgn guests. I jadi wedding planner ni, bukan ape lah, tapi I kadang kesian tengok kwan2 yang datang wedding2 kwn dia. Kadang2 tu tak dapat nampak a glimpse of the pengantin pun. kenapa? oh sebab dah pergi tempat rumah perempuan/lelaki. You pikirlah, you jemput orang datang majlis you, orang mesti nak tengok you kan? And sebagai yang menjemput, tak ke you sepatutnya, selagi termampu you at least say hi ke senyum lah paling2 pun pada orang yang you jemput? Takkan setakat nak suruh dia datang makan kasi duit kan? Memang lah macam tu dah caranya, tapi you sebagai golongan generasi baru ni, tak rasa macam weird sikit ke kalau macam tu? Lagi2 kalau yang datang tu kawan yang dah lama tak jumpa ke ape ke kan?

Lagi pulak, antara sebabnye ade majlis ni, sebab nak kenalkan pasangan kita kan? betul? kasi tengok, ha ni la soulmate i. kalau orang tu datang you all dah takde, maknanya takde chance lah nak kenal kan, betul? haaa. betul tak betul tak?

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Suggestion 3: Music background. I ni memang sangat2 tak recommend la kat my clients kalau nak panggel deejay2 ni sume. Lagi2 kalau yang panggel karaoke team ke pasang karaoke box. Tak pentinglah I tell you. Dah lah kurang enak didengar. Buat bising je. Dengar cakap I. Buang duit je. Baik you kasi I duit tu kan? Eh tak tak. Maksud I, dari panggil deejay yang you tak kenal langsung untuk kecoh2 kan baek you pasang background music yang soothing, yang tak melampau, yang boleh beri pengajaran dan sebagainya, betul tak? Orang yang datang pun tak bingit telinga and kalau dorang dengar, boleh benefit lagi!

example: ni wedding planner punye preference lah, of course. but eh must see! very sweet! :D

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Oklah. I nak pergi toilet. you jangan pergi mana2 ok. nanti i’ll be back with more suggestions! you mesti excited nak consider punye! macam ahhmmm.. yelah, macam my options nak pakai baju ape, make up macam mana, hantaran nak macam mana, kek berapa tingkat ke ape ke.. haa. you consider lah tu tiga suggestions dulu. i’ll be back with more nanti ye, insyaAllah.

*smiiiiles*

Last week, my mum and grandma went to this jemputan which was just beberapa tapak away from my block. My bro and I stayed at home and ate maggi instead (or was it pizza?). So they came home and started talking about how very the grand the wedding was.

Nenek cutest: “Macam2 betul makanan dia. Dah amek, dah duduk, baru perasan kat sana tuh lagi satu meja penuh dengan makanan. Takkan nenek nak amek lagi kan.”

Mummy dearest: “Punyelah lawa deco dia.. Kek dia tujuh tingkat. Pastu satu2 meja ada cake kecik. Bukan untuk makan tau. Just for decoration je. Tapi memang lawa lah. Pelamin de pun.. Grand segrand-grand nya lah.”

Hannah sweetest (nyehehe): “Oh ye (please sense the nonchalant tone. haha)?”

Nenek cutest: “Ah. Abeh nanti anak kau kahwin nanti buat lah macam tu. Membazir duit.”

Mummy dearest: (JOKINGLY – she better be) “Ah ah. Nak buat macam tu lah. Nak macam tu jugak.”

Hannah sweetest: “Mama? (This time really concerned)”

Mummy dearest: *ignoring sweetest* “Kurang2 tu 20k. Makanan dengan deco je tu. Belom yang lain2. Membazir betul. Tu Mama pun betul2 tak agree.”

Hannah sweetest: “Asal mahal nah eh? Melampau sangat  eh Ma.”

Mummy dearest: “Yelah, dia buat grand2. Ana tengok, sekarang yang simple2 je pun package sampai 6-7k. Tengok yang abang *** (my cousin) kahwin tu. Grand ape nye. Service deco sume tak betul. nak dekat 7 ribu tu. Makan dengan deco je tu. Tak masuk mak andam apape semua.”

Hannah sweetest: “Ntah! Padahal tak bagus eh ma the whole thing. Kesian abang ***.  Memang merepek ah package2 ni semua. Ma tengok ah. Macam mana orang nak kahwin sekarang. Kadang2 they can afford to support the wife and the family later, but not the majlis. Ma bayangkan ah, kalau majlis de da kurang2 10k, macam mana seh. 10k tu boleh beli macam2 seh ma. Ni ah orang2 sekarang ni. Pentingkan majlis yang tak berapa hari tu. Abeh susahkan orang nak kahwin. Tak logic seh. Ni pelamin2 semua, tak penting seh! Abeh makan nak banyak2 sampai orang tak terabes makan buat ape. Cake2 semua. Setakat! Kek yang kita temankan abang *** order tu pun mana sedap. Setakat buat lawa for beberapa hours tu je. Tu pun da nak dekat $400. Boleh buat bayar 2 malam kat hotel, ke beli ticket pegi thailand ke. Lagi best.”

Mummy dearest: “Yang semangat nah cakap pasal ni kenapa? Dah nak kahwin? Nak kahwin cakap. Mama kahwin kan. (Please sense the sarcasm, please.) Dah ada calon? Kalau takde mama adverstise kan kat sokkaba. Siapa nak kahwin anak saya. (TSK!!)”

Hannah sweetest: “Pe je ma. Takdela.. Orang cakap je~”

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“Ana ingat nak buat video. Nak promote nikah cara simple je. Dekat masjid, makan2. Dah.”

“Ana sokong. Kite buat kempen yok. Kempen permudah kan nikah!”

“Eish. Anti ni. Tapi kalau boleh jadi betul bagus juga.”

“You know akh, the thing is, the social construct dah macam ni. kalau nak kahwin kene grand2. Hantaran lagi kene mahal2. Macamlah kalau hantaran 10k tu, harga anak tu pun 10k. Of course anak tu tak boleh letak harga kan. Mahar tu sebab just a token of appreciation kan. Hantaran2 ni.. Takyah lah. Kalau betul2 can afford oklah. Ni kalau tak boleh afford nak paksa jugak, ape cerita kan.”

“Tulah. Tapi nak buat macam mana, dah memang macam gitu orang kita. Tu sebab kite kene tingkatkan kesedaran.”

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Once upon a time, in a very engaging conversation… (lain orang)

“Ana betul2 tak paham lah. Isteri pakai make-up lepas tu baju pun cantik2.. Sampaikan isteri tu kelihatan lebih cantik pada hari itu berbanding pada hari biasanya. Bukan tak boleh lah, tapi janganlah keterlaluan. Tapi kalau ana lah, ehhhh. Ana tak boleh acceptlah ukhti. Dah jadi isteri, habis tu nak diperagakan kecantikannya depan orang ramai? Aduuiiih. Sorry to say, tapi macam.. macam bodohlah.”

“Hahaha. Sabar akhi sabar. Emosi nye sampai cakap orang bodoh. Hehe”

“Hehe. Takdelah, tapi, ehh. Isteri ana tau tu! Mana boleh tengok2. Ana jealous lah. She is mine you know. Segala kecantikannya juga. Kalau ana memang tak buatlah.”

“Abeh nanti keluarga anta tak cakap apape ke?”

“Mestilah cakap. Mana boleh tak cakap. Ana memang respect kat orang2 tua dalam keluarga ana. Tapi, dalam hal ni, ini dah masuk bab syariat. Ana hormatkan mereka, tapi I should respect syariat more right? It’s not really the matter of whether ana nak give in atau tidak, but I have to stand firm on my ground dalam masalah ini. But i will try to handle this matter dengan penuh berhati-hati. Harap2 tak adalah yang kecik hati sangat atau sebagainya.”

 *smiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiless*

(diy, ima.. paham kan? :D)

khannahdaehstopiteh.

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Hmm.. I’m about to start on something rather controversial (again??!). Tapi tengah sakit ah. I need to recuperate. Tsk tsk. Lain kali sambung ye? Ilalliqa’! :)