ROAD SAFETY DURING VACATION

Its vacation time again.For those who are on vacation abroad have fun and enjoy your holidays.If
you decide to rent a car,van or other means of transport to be on the road to see places,do
observe some road safety tips to ensure safe journey for you and your family/friends.
Before the journey
1.Do not drive while you're still having jet lag
2.Plan your journey.Familiarize yourself with the road map
3.Make sure the rented car is in good condition
4.Try to avoid driving at night b'cos you are not familiar with the road
5.Familiarize yourself with the car.(right hand drive or left hand drive)
During the journey
1.Drive defensively
-avoid using mobile phone while driving.Using mobile phone can distract
concentration
-use seat belt for safety
-observe speed limit
-beware of pedestrians crossing the road
-take a break when you feel tired and sleepy
-anticipate other road users.
-keep your distance.Do not drive too close to the vehicle in front of you
-keep conversation with others to a minimum so that you can concentrate on the road
-be extra careful when driving on a wet/slippery road
-observe road signs
-DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE

HOW TO BE COMFORTABLE ON BOARD A PLANE

It's that time of the year again where many people pack their bags,board a plane to be where
they want to be.It could be those beautiful islands in the Carrabeans,China,Africa,Europe
or the beautiful sandy beaches of Malaysia.Travelling long distance by plane can be tiring.So
it is important to make oneself comfortable on board the plane by observing the following:

1.Travel in comfort by wearing loose clothes that is practical.No need to dress like movie stars b'cos most of the time you are glued to your seat.Bring extra clothing(jacket,shawl,etc.)to keep you warm altho airline do provide blankets for passengers.
2.Travel in comfort by getting yourself a good seat on the plane:
-a seat that can give you more leg room
-an aisle seat for easier movement
-back seat if you want to spread out(back seat usually less occupied)
-front seat if you want to embark in a hurry to catch a connecting flight
-a seat near the lavatory if you have a loose bladder
-a seat near the galleys if you want to be served early during meal times
3.Travel in comfort by bringing along reading materials(magazines,books,ect)
to keep you occupied.(Inflight magazines are limited)
4.Travel in comfort by avoiding earache due to air pressure during take off and landing
by having chewing gum or sweets(you can request from cabin crew)
5.Travel in comfort by doing light exercises to avoid muscle cramp and blood clot
6.Travel in comfort by drinking a lot of water to avoid dehydration
7.Travel in comfort by having enough rest before you travel.A tired body can cause
tardiness and makes you irritable and grouchy.
8.Travel in comfort by keeping yourself fit and free from any illness such as cold and fever
9.Travel in comfort by avoiding jet lag
10.Travel in comfort by having a plan schedule on board the plan(list what you want
to do before /after refreshment,before /after mealtime,before/after breakfast is served)

The list goes on....enjoy your flight.Happy holidays.

DINNER WITH SMILEY

Last night my younger sister took us to dinner at the Putra Jaya Seafood Restaurant.The get together was very meaningful to me for its not often that I can be with members of the family.There was my eldest sister, her grandchildren,my nephew,my son and my daughter.We
enjoyed the dinner and what makes it more memorable we were able to see Smiley in the night
sky(Smiley comprised a cresent moon that looks like a smile and two stars which looked like
eyes).From what I read in The Star (the local daily) today,this phenomenon was caused by the alignment of Venus,Jubiter and a three-day-old cresent moon at the right spot to form the
Smiley.Its not often that Smiley appears in the night sky.Those who missed it have to wait for another five years.We went home with full stomach.To my sister thank you very much for the
dinner.Hope to see you again in six months time.Enjoy your holiday with your son and
hubby in London and your stay in Doha.We going to miss you.To the staff of Putra Jaya Seafood
Restaurant we thank you for the excellent service.We appreciate your personal touch .

Clip in hair extension for that gorgeous Christmas look

I met a friend recently at a salon.She had her hair cut short Previously her hair was shoulder length.She likes her new look but missed her long hair very much.I do admit that she looks
gorgeous with long hair.For those with short hair do not despair.You still can have beautiful long hair.Why not try hair extension.Hair extension is the way to beautiful hair.There are varieties of hair extension.The more affordable and popular is the clip in hair extension.It does not take long to fix and you can do it yourself.It is light and can be removed when not in use.It is reusable provided you take good care of it.So go for it this Christmas season.See the difference in you.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TIPS

Yesterday was Black Friday for people in the States,just a day after Thanksgiving.Crowds of shoppers thronged shopping malls and stores to get that special bargains on items put on sale.
Black Friday was the start of the Christmas shopping season.In Malaysia,where I reside,similar event kicks off today and will end on Jan 4,2009.It is the Malaysia Saving Sales or MSS.This shopping extravaganza is an opportunity for the people to do their shopping in preparation for Christmas,New Year celebrations and the coming school year.What things can we shop at these grand sales like on Black Friday or Malaysia Saving Sales ?Plenty of course!And what more.,you can purchase items at a discounted rate during the sales period.Items range from apparels,accesories,home decor,Christmas gifts,travel packages,and many more.So let's shop.
With variety of products to choose from do shop wisely.Altho Christmas is just round the corner,it's not an excuse not to limit your spending.Some shopping tips might help to curb excessive spending:
1.Buy only when it is really a bargain.(A few days ago I bought a long sleeve T-shirt at RM5.00
(normal price is RM39.90).
2.Buy items that you really need (it's wise to prepare a shopping list prior to shopping spree)
3.Leave children at home if you are not buying anything for them.Children's demand can be
a drain to your budget
4.Bring cash just enough to buy items on your shopping list (check prices in catalogs before
you shop)
5.Pay cash for items you purchased.Used credit/charge cards sparingly
6.Do-it-your-own Christmas gifts not only can reduce spending but more meaningful to
family members and friends.

Happy shopping. Go for the best deals in town that enable you to save while shopping.

SWEET SMELLING CHRISTMAS TREE

What is Christmas without a Christmas tree.Christmas tree is the most important decoration

during the Christmas season.It add a touch of grace and elegance to homes and residences.Years

ago during my stay in Melbourne,Australia I had a friend who married an Australian who never

forget to invite me and my spouse to their house during Christmas.Of course,they had a big

Christmas tree in their living room,beautifully decorated with strands of lights,garlands and

ornaments.The following year she told me she wanted something different for her Christmas

tree.She wanted some ideas from me.I told her to have a sweet smelling Christmas tree.

So this was what I did to make her Christmas tree smells sweet:

1.Cut a bunch of pandan leaves(screwpine) very finely (use a very sharp knife)

2.Mix the finely cut pandan leaves with rose petals together with petals of other

flowers of own choice(e.g.jasmine and other sweet smelling flowers).Cut the petals

into small bits if the petals are too big.

3.Spray and mix your favourite perfume or colonge together with the pandan leaves

plus the flower petals.(Make sure you mix enough to smell the fragrance))

4.Put the pandan leaves in small pouches and hang it around the Christmas tree.

5.Put the remaining pandan leaves in a big bowl and place it at the skirt of the Christmas tree

(Pandan leaves( picture above) are available at Asian food store.

It has a sweet,pleasant aroma and very soothing.)

Since then my friend had my home-made' pandan leaves potpourri ' to keep her

Christmas tree smells sweet.

To my dear friend I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I LOVE MY TEETH

Everybody like to have a set of beautiful teeth.Right!.But how many of us do take good care of our teeth.Most of us take our teeth for granted.Recently my siblings and me visited our
cousin.She's in the late 60's ,still bubbly, sweet and charming.But alas! Her teeth is not something that she's proud of.She advised us to give proper dental care to our teeth before
we start loosing them one by one.I couldn't agree more .What it means to have a beautiful set
of teeth? I would like to share an article I read in a recent newspaper.It's about a lady who lost
her teeth when she was still young b'cos in those days there was lack of awareness about
dental hygiene. She had no choice but to wear dentures.She became self concious of her dentures. But over the years she discovered how to take good care of her dentures.She regains her confidence and since then she never look back. Use dentures if you have to but my
advice to you is don"t lose your teeth..
Chrismas season is just round the corner.There will be plenty of food to eat (roast turkey,cakes,puddings,cookies,etc.)Enjoy it by all means and be merry.But dont forget your teeth.Take good care of them.Remember "SWEET SMILE DOESN'T GO WITH SWEET TOOTH"

A Proud Mum

UPSR results was released yesterday.What a relief to parents who had children sitting for
the exam last September.Yesterday, schools welcomed parents who were anxious and
excited over their children's exam results.I was in school yesterday waiting patiently for
the school to release the results.So were other parents.We waited at the canteen.No one was
allowed to be in class while the teachers distribute the exam results.I think this is a good
system to avoid overcrowding.Soon we heard shouting and screaming from the classrooms.
A lot of suspense for the parents.Then one by one I could see them coming down the stairs
with results in hand looking for their parents.Happy and excited.But where is my son? I
could not see him anywhere.I did not feel good at all.Other parents were busy hugging
and congratulating their sons/daughters.But there I was standing alone,didn't know
what to expect.Then I heard someone said,"Auntie,Iman got 5A's".I guessed it was my
son's classmate.I was so relief.I thanked and congratulated her.I went to the classroom.
Classrooms were already empty.I went back to the canteen still looking for my son.There
he was with a friend and proudly telling me his results.I hugged him with tears in my eyes.
I thank God for his achievement But it is still a long way for him.This is just the beginning.

Where Is My Favourite Slippers?

Besides shoes wether branded or otherwise,we use slippers or sandals to protect our feet.While I was small I wore rubber shoes each day to school.Not that I liked it so much but it was the
school"s rule.If I had my choice I would happily put on my brown leather shoes ,BATA brand that is,with my clean white socks.At least I looked smarter.I thought so.After schools I gladly
took off my rubber shoes and looked for my slippers.Most popular slippers was the Japanese
slippers.It's made of rubber.Maybe it was made in Japan.That's why it's called Japanese
slippers.Japanese slippers are still around but through the years they improve on the designs
but not so soft and 'rubbery' as the ones I used to wear before.As I grew older I became more
choosy as there were many more designs to choose from.It wasn't cool anymore to wear
Japanese slippers(Nowadays most people wear Japanese slippers at home).Out of the many
slippers in the market at that time I chose to wear slippers produced by BATA( never tried
any other brand)known as 'intellectual slippers' .Nothing fancy about the design but to me it was
the most comfortable slippers.It came in three colours-black,beige and dark red.During my university days,intellectual slipper was my best friend.After I graduated and start working I still wore the slipper.I wonder how it got his name.But too bad,over the years intellectual slippers were no longer in production.Will BATA produce it again.I miss my best friend.

Mum's Sewing Machine

I'm a quite fasionable person.During my younger days I love to wear the latest fashion in town.
Dresses,mini skirts,midis,ect.with matching accesories.What more,I made my own dress.No such thing as buying readymade clothes from the stores,what more from boutiques.My father's
monthly income could not afford such luxuries.I started sewing my own clothes when I was 12
years old.Before that I used to watch my Mum at the sewing machine making clothes either
for herself and her 4 daughters or for friends and relatives.I was rather fascinated by her skills.
Not only making clothes but she made beautiful embroideries too.She knew I was very much
interested in sewing.I could still remember when I was 7 she let me used her machine to
make a dress for my little doll.I was so excited the first time I dressed up my doll that I made
myself.Since then I made pretty dresses for my doll using my Mum's sewing machine.My Mum
treasured her sewing machine.She bought the machine before I was born.The machine is still
with the family at my Mum's house for more than 60 years now and we still used it ocassionally.Everytime I look at the machine I remember those fond memories.Mum's sewing
machine will forever be in my heart.

Newfound love

I did not expect him at all.Neither my friend arrranged a blind date for me.I met him by chance.
One morning after our Tai-chi session my good friend invited me to have breakfast at her
house b'cos she wanted to give me some brochures she collected when she visited Melbourne
recently.In fact she did it on my request.While enjoying breakfast a cute Persian cat passed
by the door.I did not take much notice of him.Later my friend showed me some pictures she
took at the various places in Melbourne.Those pictures remind me of my three years stay
in Melbourne more than 30 years ago.I hope to visit Melbourne again.Perhaps some day.
The Persian cat came to me and started to lick my feet.I was a bit disturbed by it. My friend
pushed him away but he kept on coming back licking my feet.He meowed so sweetly and
started to flirt with me.My friend said he liked me and asked me wether I would like to have
him.I remember my son was asking me for a cat to replace the ones that we gave away
recently.My friend wanted to give away the cat b'cos her daughter just gave birth and she doesn't want cat while there is a baby in the house.Since the cat took a liking for me I took
him home with me.He's been with me and my son for the past week(we called him BotBot)
BotBot,welcome to your new home.We love you.

Flowers In The Air

Whats so special about flowers that most of us can't do without them.We love having flowers in our homes.We want them to bloom in our gardens.We decorate our office with flowers.Weddings are not complete without flowers The list goes on.The fact that we all like flowers b'cos flowers are beautiful,colorful and smells sweet.Its no wonder,florist shops make good sales during festive seasons or on special occasions .We send flowers to love ones and friends on their birthdays,wedding anniversaries,Valentines Day and we even place flowers on the grave of
the dead.Flowers play a big part in our lives.With flowers we express our love,with flowers we share our joy,with flowers we share our grief . When my father was alive,he planted orchids.so we had beautiful orchid garden.My late Mum planted roses,so we smell roses most of the time.My late husband liked hibiscus .We had red,white,yellow,purple hibiscus.Me? Sorry guys,I dont have green fingers.So no more beautiful hibiscus in my garden.I missed them thou.So you guys out there,Mothers Day is just round the corner.I'm sure Mum will love those beautiful flowers .So start ordering them now.Anyone care to send me flowers?.I'm a mother too,you know.Bye,have a nice day!

ROSES are red my love........
VIOLETS are blue........
(even song love flowers)

Keep On Dreaming

When I was young I had a dream.So was my father.My father's dream was to send me to
university.Every Sunday evening he would take me and the rest of the family for a ride round
Lake Gardens and he would passed by Malay Girls College.He said one day I would
be there studying before entering university. I did not go to Malay Girls College but I did
enter university.I made my father proud.So what happened to my dream.When I was young
I like to listen to music especially songs by Saloma better known as Salmah Ismail at that time.
I could sing her songs and I was her fan and till now I still do.She became a niteclub singer and
was the first Malay female niteclub singer performed in a niteclub in Melbourne,Australia.I was
very proud of her.Since then I dreamed to be like Saloma singing in niteclub as my career.
But my father"s dream became priority. So there goes my young girl dream.

As I grow older I had another dream.I wanted to be a doctor,but I could not get into science
stream.So forget about being Dr.Nora .At the university I studied Social Sciences.I had another
dream-to be a lecturer but instead I landed being a radio producer at RTM.(But I did marry a professor thou) It did not last long before I became a PR person and from there I climbed the
career ladder to success before my retirement two years ago. Now I still have a dream.
Im working very hard to make this dream a reality.Wish me luck,guys!

We All Need Love

I'm pooped.Just came back from Seremban,only 45-60 minutes drive from PJ,anyway.But
when age is catching you up energy is running away.I went back to Seremban just to see
my niece who got new posting to JB with the Inland Revenue.So whats the big deal.After all JB is just 5 hours drive from Seremban.As if she's leaving for London or New York! The bond between family members knows no bound.When family gets together it goes without saying that each member needs each other,need to feel he/she is being loved,being missed.Soon I'm going to miss other members of the family.My nephew is leaving for Germany this weekend, although just for a short period ( Nazri if you read my blog,Acik wish you all the best.Dont forget to look for the cat and the mouse)followed by my brother in-law who got a job in Qatar.Soon
my sister will follow suit altho I dont know when. Talk about love(be it love between H&W,sisters,brothers,ect..)we often take it for granted.How often do we call our loved ones?How often do we respond to his/her SMS...The list goes on.Too busy with our own lives,eh..That's
goes for me.I lost my Dad when I was in Los Angeles BUSY studying for my Masters degree.Then I lost my Mum when I was so BUSY with my career.I lost my husband too when HE too was BUSY with his work(May their soul rest in peace) To my Dad,my Mum,my Loving hubby, my love for you now I share with my loving children,sisters,nephews and nieces wherever they may be.

Arabic,anyone?

Ever learned Arabic but failed to speak the language? I do and of course I came with a lot of excuses .Firstly, I cant write Jawi but suprisingly I can read Jawi (learnt it from readingUtusan Melayu written in Jawi when I was small) Secondly,just like French,the grammar part is
difficult( dont know which is masculine and feminine)Thirdly,hardly spoke the language except
during class.Fourthly,I studied on and off,thats why I still could not speak Arabic after 3
years.So dont blame the language.
This morning I attended a program"Jom Berbahasa Arab" organized by Biro Wanita Masjid
near my house. They invited Mona Jasman from Radio IKIM to officiate the program.I was so impressed by her speech .She spoke fluent Arabic.Of course,lah,she was born and brought up in Egypt,studied in University Al-Azhar.But thats not the point.The point is anyone can learn
Arabic,be it written or spoken,provided you put your heart and soul into it.So I made a promise
to myself, told my friends I will seriously study Arabic so that by the time I'll go to Mecca at the end of the year to perform my Haj I would be able to speak Arabic.But my friends told me
not to worry for people in Mecca will speak in Bahasa to you.Well...well..there goes my
motivation to study Arabic.....

My First Entry.

Hello!

This is my first blog. Will update more soon! See You!