I am 23

I am 22, going on 23...

I left Malaysia when I was 22.

I woke up in London today and I am 23! 

and it can never get any better than this.... 

Before I went to sleep, my closest London loves surprised me with so many pretty birthday gifts (mind you, my eyes were only half open due to the jet lag) , my other half in Malaysia woke up early just to wish me happy birthday when I turn 23, London time (before he went back to sleep of course) and I woke up in a lil cold city that I've missed so much, and with the family and cousins and aunties around :) 

Simple things in life that can make me exuberantly happy!!

 :):)

Initially I forgot that it was my birthday since I woke up and I found dad doing work in the living room. Workaholic much? Abang asleep. Mama lazing around. Lil cousin getting ready for UKEC OGM. Another cousin jet lagged and getting ready for some shopping and my aunty figuring out what to prepare for breakfast.

I'm 23 and I've never been any happier and I am very thankful for everything that I have and I have been put through thus far. 

The best family a daughter and sister can ever ask for. The greatest friends. A perfect other half. And an excellent 22 years thus far. Alhamdulillah.

9 days to make the most out of my London days! It has been one of the best birthday indeed :)

Perfect Birthday Part 6 - Just Us Girls

The boys, Aiman and Imran decided to climb Mount Kinabalu last weekend, so weeks before the weekend came, Sya had ‘booked’ both the brothers’ other half for a girl’s day out to celebrate my birthday. So very sweet, really! And I didn’t even know what was planned for me. Sya and Aliaa had it all planned in their heads and they weren’t telling me, even the slightest clue. It did not help that before the boys left, Aiman managed a “You’re gonna have loads of fun, don’t worry!”… and not telling either. Hmmph…

First stop. Hammam.

My first thought when Sya told me to wait for her there was “Hmm, I probably need this break”. Guess what happened next?! Aliaa and I were getting changed and we were both confused and we even asked ourselves “what did we just agree to do again?” HAHA! This was too funny. I swear two Alia’s in one place is enough to intrude the peacefulness of a spa! We were laughing silly and giggling whilst figuring out the different pieces of clothes given to us, I think the guy was secretly annoyed with Aliaa and I in particular :P Sya was relatively the quieter one since she got a room to herself. Trust bankers to flip and turn what have you, just to figure out what they are! Due diligence much? ;)

OMG, I shall not write details la k. It is just too funny I cannot take it. Next thing we know, we’re all dressed up to go to 'the beach', oh yeah. We were treated like proper princesses though in there, we just had to get hold of ourselves not to laugh too much. They practically showered us like lil kids, and before I know it, my just-washed hair was drenched. Not too smart not to ask for a shower cap there, but hey, we already paid, might as well I get fully drenched. At the end of the scrubbing session, both Aliaa and I agreed that we workaholics had more dead skin cell as compared to a student, probably coz we’re relatively busier (and obviously often sleep in work clothes for me :P). Sya wasn’t as ‘dirty’ as us ok!  What an experience!


We then headed to T Forty Two and gosh, the interior design was just so beautiful. Even the little cutlery that they used. Not to mention the excellent food spread as well. Simply delicious! It was probably my first time properly spending time with just Aliaa and Sya, and my word, these girls are amazing! I love them already :) Especially when we start being silly, talking about no-brainer stuff. 

Hidayah came to join us afterwards, and whilst we were going around catching up, Hidayah mentioned that she has never been to the Gardens, and I just had to mumble a "Movies!". Guess what happened next? Aliaa said "OK. JOM!

O_o

We found ourselves at the Gardens afterwards. 4 girls, a little on the hyper side already, probably from eating too much and just being very happy :) Well, at least until a stranger decided to give me flowers at Alexis. Gosh, these waiters! They definitely know my birthday was coming up huh? :P
This is when Kak Aliaa comes to the rescue, and yeah tu la, the boys just shouldn't have gone to climb that mountain. Quoting Kak Aliaa "No mountain is ever worth it :P". We then debated on who should tell Aiman the story. haha! I'm more than sure if anything, Aiman was thankful that Kak Aliaa was around with me for the weekend.

Did I mention that the Kifli brothers managed to conquer the Kinabalu mountain! Well done Aiman and Imran :)

All in all, it was one very happy day out, and I only have Sya, Kak Aliaa and Hidayah to thank for making it an awesome work-free (yeah, the weekend before, both Kak Aliaa and I were working) happy birthday day out, Sya even got her pavlova from Alexis that she was craving for! and lookie what I got :)


Inside is the prettiest card, all hand made, hand written!
Thank you sweetie!

Perfect Birthday Part 5 - London to Melbourne Best Friends Combination

 When I love my best friend too much to allow her to go back to Melbourne

My happy pills in Malaysia

So this is when I got my birthday wish – to have a meal together with the complete London Melbourne Best Friends combination.

Us four, at Pink Sage, for breakfast.

We were keeping scores on which best friends are the better ones, and clearly Shura and I won. Coz we scheduled for breakfast at 10, we got there at 10. At this point, Ajjie was still sleeping and Vivy was struggling to communicate with Ajjie’s maid to tell her to wake Ajjie up! Vivy and Ajjie got there at 10.45.

ShuAlia – 1

VyAjjie – 0 

But all was forgiven when we saw them struggling and scrambling into the restaurant, in high heels! That must have been a challenge already. Haha. It was too funny, especially with Ajjie holding a box of Taboo in her hand. Earlier the night before she had this brilliant idea of playing taboo to see which best friend combination is the smarter one. Well, we already won by default since they were so late, so taboo what…? Pfft…

At the end of the day we ended up ordering SO MUCH, but ate SO LITTLE coz we were too busy being very happy little girls.

Best part was when the bill came and Ajjie said

“Happy birthday Als! Birthday breakfast on me ”

…opens up wallet. Looks at Vivy

“Eh Vy, you pay first. I didn’t bring cash! But happy birthday Als, breakfast still on me”

By that time, Shura and I were very certain that we don’t need to play taboo to win anymore :P
 *smacks forehead*




From London to Melbourne best friends.

Perfect Birthday Part 3 & 4 - Of Toots, Titts and Fadza

Few weeks ago

“What do you want for your birthday?”

“Us four (Shu, Ajjie, Vivy and I) having dinner together”

A weekend before my birthday

“Als! Eh jom dinner tonight, you and Shu come join us la”

“Ajjie! Where?”

“Usually in our Pyjamas at Vy’s house, but today’s an exception. BSC. See you” 

Later in the evening

Shura was at the saloon doing her hair, and Ajjie was at the I-don’t-know-where, having a round of I-don’t-know-treatment-for-what. Did I tell you I decided to sleep at the hairdresser whilst waiting for Shura. I’m skillful like that. Afterwards, I just decided to do nothing but spend the rest of the time with Shura and Zariq. My favourite Shukor siblings. 

Later at night as I was walking out of the lift at BSC, I bumped into Fadza and Vivy.

She and he gave me a hug before Fadza asked “where are you heading to?”

“Huh? Am I not seeing you guys for dinner? Pfft…”

“But we’re having dinner together. Not with you right?” (Very convincing face came with this if I may add)

“Hmm…Ok la, I call Ajjie” 

Next thing I know, I saw them all VERY DRESSED UP at Dancing Fish - they had just planned a lil surprise birthday dinner for me. Yes, I was in my most comfortable slip-on shoes (nasib baik tak pakai slippers!), a jeans, Polo shirt and messed up hair. I obviously did not look like the one being celebrated, duh. The cake was the best surprise, cause the place serve no cakes but Fadza worked his charm with the waitress and they got like OMG-the most delicious cake ever! Well planned.

From dinner, we moved on to Dome for supper, and I had to stop them from getting another cake as I was already too full to even move. Food at Dancing Fish is highly recommended by the way. Superb quality.

It was one very happy night that was, filled with many laughters and silly moments. I was a happy girl indeed. Thank you Fadza, Vivy and Ajjie!

The cutest part has got to be when

Fadza said “I’m getting this birthday dinner bill. Happy birthday”

Vivy said “I’m getting this birthday supper bill.Happy birthday!”

…and Ajjie said “there’s another birthday breakfast for you tomorrow. On me. Happy birthday in advance!”

Perfect Birthday Part 2 - The day I Revisited My Melbourne Favourites

These girls put together

 At a fashion market

Go figure!

Just days before Kim touched down in Malaysia, she BBM-ed me and said, it’s quite stressful at work and she can’t wait to get back home. Previously, when she was home not too long ago, Shu, Kim and I decided that perhaps we should have a quick getaway when Kim gets home again and a short birthday get together before I leave.

Next thing I know Kim and Adrina (kim’s lil sister) has planned an early birthday girl’s day out – me and my Melbourne favourites; Shura, Kim and Rowena, the minute Kim touched down at KLIA.

Earlier in the morning it was me, Shura, Shura’s boss and the bird park. OMG, I know I’m a Malaysian, but that was actually my first time at the park. Did I mention the butterfly park as well? *smacks forehead* I felt like the tourist myself. It was rather funny being in a situation where everyone spoke with the strong Australian accent and I can only manage a very strong British accent. Confused much? We kept going "I beg your pardon" at each other halfway. Haha! If only I had a video recorder then.

Soon after, we were on our way to fetch Wena at her house and that was an adventure on its own. More animals as we had to pass Zoo Negara before getting to hers. Haha! Never put a Shura and an Alia together…it spells chaos. Wena on the other hand is the calm and composed one amongst us, even in the office. Yup, we work for the same company. So imagine what Wena was getting herself into. Next thing I know, she was as hyper herself!

Back in Australia, they used to assign an animal to each, and they just had to randomly decide on platypus for me. Oh God help me. One too many animal in a day I swear! The real chaos began when everyone was put together, Wena, Shura, Kim, Adrina and I + at Chic Pop’s fashion market! 

Let’s just say that the rest of the day was a splendid birthday day out with the Melbourne crew. I met so many friends at the market as well and even managed to drag Sya and Hidayah out to the event.

Perfect Birthday Part 1 - World's Greatest Company

It was indeed abang's birthday last last Friday, but Sunday the 16th was the start of my birthday celebrations instead.

My birthday is well...'berzaman' away still but hey, early birthday presents are more than welcomed! :)

As I write this, I've had 6 birthday celebrations already...and it's not even my real birthday yet! I feel very loved, and I definitely have the most amazing people around me.

This time, it started with me getting the best company I can ever ask for. It's been ages since lil miss best friend is back in Malaysia for my birthday, and guess what? This year, Shura Fazlina Shukor is home for my birthday! Usually, it is I who will be at hers on HER birthday. So, I'm obviously more than happy and not complaining :) If I could, I'd not let her go back to Melbourne! But ok, let's be fair to Zamir.

And then, just when I had one of the craziest working weekend, lil  mr fellow convenor came by - and Aiman brought along the most unique birthday present I have ever gotten in my entire birthday history. Him and Polo shirts :) What have I got to say to that, he just won the best-birthday gift award, hands down! :) Even mama, daddy and abang thinks so!

And the entire week, it was purely a 'me, Mama, Daddy, Abang, Aiman and Shura' time.

That has got to be the first to the start of my birthday celebrations and it was the happiest one, Alhamdulillah :) I am very thankful for I am very lucky to be getting the best birthday presents this year!

Could not have asked for anything better. 

Respect

We all (would automatically) know how it feels to be seen for less than what we are. It is an unpleasant experience and it happens all too commonly - simply because people are lazy sometimes. Who can be bothered to take the time to know you truly? Very few. Explains why, you definitely will know who are your true back catchers when you fall. It is much easier to categorize using some kind of mental shorthand. The unpredictable and the new are ignored because too much effort is required to perceive them.

Now think the opposite.

Someone has taken the trouble to get to know us and to treat us for who we are. This person recognizes us as real and unique. We are no longer invisible but instead, an object of interest and appreciation. We feel we have value not just because we respond to a demand, but because of who we are. We are welcomed and seen for what we can become. 

This is respect - to look back, regard and consider.

Respect, like patience, may seem a hackneyed, old-fashioned virtue. Yet, if we think about it a moment, we find it holds a store of possibilities. The way we look at others is never neutral, for we transform what we see. The first time I saw my now-bestest-friend in the world was "hmm...she looks a lil snobby". haha! Don't worry, she knows :)

Our attention brings energy, while our lack of attention takes it away.

...and to think that this post cropped out because I realized (again) how much respect I have for someone :)

Great Company

Because I always feel that I have the world's best team mates at work, I felt so drained when everyone was not based in KL this week and I had to cover for them.

Really, when everyone's around, you feel tired, but you can efficiently distribute your energy between all the assignments. But come a week when no one is around. My goodness, my team actually has damn a lot of work - combined! I never knew!

Tuesday was the craziest of all, I nearly ( I said nearly ok ) gave up at one point, and I almost looked like I came to work straight after I woke up - without showering. I went to work before 7, did not make it for breakfast or even lunch, walked into the door...you name it. Amazingly, I have the greatest superior whom I can just run up to and tell him "I have not enough hands!! Help?"...and the next minute you see him attending to me and sitting next to me helping me out. So very sweet, I don't even think I can leave the team let alone imagine it. Afterwards, he went to get me lunch!

Somehow, I always find these things a happy-kinda-stress. Reason being that the satisfaction you get is just so great. Upon completing all the tasks, and at the same time having to suffer through breakfast and lunch time just gives you the best satisfaction you could ever get!

Next thing I know, it ended oh-so-well, with my wants for happy meal attended to by my colleagues and futsal training to end the night, just how I like it :)

I definitely have the best team in the world. Indeed.

Those Squiggly Lines on the screen

I’ve come to realize that I get very excited waiting for the stock market to open every morning!! Is it because I work in a Bank? or perhaps because I learn as I watch them? I don't know. The latter sounds more like it. I have colleagues who get so driven by the stock market and with so many people around me who plays with stocks and shares, I have observed that it has been so focused a lot on the oil and gas sector lately.

Today, focus has been heavily placed on certain oil and gas stocks. ETP and EPP efforts were channeled in the oil and gas industry. Prices of oil and gas shares are rising.

Is there a possibility that the oil market might enter into a bubble?

Blurt out “bubble”, and most investors will become very attentive! Amazing isn’t it? It seems to me like watching the market rise and fall is more interesting than the Malaysia-Indonesia football match :P It definitely stirs strong emotions, often adding more heat than light to a debate about asset or commodity prices. So, the spot price has risen to almost RM 73 per barrel in FIVE months. 33% is a speedy growth indeed.

Bubbles are more about expectation and behaviour. There is heightened media and investor attention to price moves, a focus on new highs, and talk about long-term scarcity and price discontinuity. Typical fundamental analysts often insist that instances of asset mispricing are small, rare and unlikely to last beyond a trading day – not long enough to trouble traders and investors. What more when they are commodities! An everyday-used item, they are more firmly grounded in the tangible fundamentals of supply and demand.

Remember the 1997 crisis? Ask people about it, and the fingers you see would be pointing towards either Soros or Thailand or anything except ourselves. Come to think of it, maybe it’s because our credit analysis was weak, you reckon? Our stock markets. We had holding companies that had big borrowings but you have no nuts about where these money was channeled to. RM600 million was it in borrowings but commitment was a mere RM100 million and cash flow from operations was about RM50 million. Where was the other RM550?


You do the maths.


Debts rose, doubts created, and Soros was merely taking the advantage. Now that, is an intelligent INVESTOR.

Eventually, he propounded a theory of “reflexivity”, in which fundamentals shape perceptions and prices, but likewise, perceptions and prices also shape the underlying fundamentals. No one is perfect and neither is this place where we stand on. In a world of incomplete data and uncertainty about the future, prices are driven by perception and expectations about supply and demand. Technically, we think this stock is good, we buy. So does him and her. So demand rises. Eventually, so will the price! All because we initially THOUGHT about the good side of the stock.

I find it interesting reading the market and human behaviour, and sometimes I am thankful for being where I am, where I can learn about all these. It’s only through experience that you understand. However, given my position working in a financial institution, with the highest integrity, I don’t say out my thoughts on stocks and market trends. Not because I know, not because I don’t know. But well because I understand my position and that I have to be careful not to allow for people to find a space to misquote me in any way. Better be safe than sorry huh? 

So, you’d figure by now that I am totally a different person inside and outside of office. I speak nothing about work outside office, nothing about deals or what I’m working for and who I’m working with. I shut down and sometimes I become so blur when people work talk outside office, after working hours. Haha! ;) I honestly think that if you work in a Bank, it’s only fair that you have a significant level of integrity. Afterall, you’re the custodian of public’s fund! Trust is never a playful matter in this case.

Best Confusion Ever

Abang has had 2 birthday surprises since Friday, so we decided on a chilled Sunday night one for him - just with the family.

Let's just say, it was his birthday treat, but instead I was the one who got a birthday present...and it is definitely the best birthday present ever (by far) hands down! 

=) 

Something that even my family members were excited about. When my family is happy, it just multiplies  for me. Now take that with the already-always-happy Alia, you do the happiness calculation.

Time for my usual mummy-daddy-me-shura catch up time before Monday comes now.

Mama's only talking to Shura now btw, that's why I'm blogging. Pfft....

My Favourite big boy :)

He's 27! Happy birthday bang long! :):):)

It was (again) another surprise birthday dinner. I really think I should start an event management company now with the number of parties I have planned. 

Criteria : It has to be a surprise, birthday party, and I know the birthday boy/girl's friends. I'm good to go!

Anyway, planning for someone very close to you is not all too difficult because you know them very well. Unless of course, on his birthday week I have a million and one to-do-list and deadlines to attend to as well la. *sweats*

Well, as for abang, I planned with mama and daddy first to create a plot and afterwards, I turned to his best friend for an extra hand! Who else would it be if not lil miss perfect-and-bubbly, Syeena :) His awesome best friend. 

Abang has his set of friends since standard one, called the ABLYNS. Don't ask me where they got the name from. I'm guessing it's the combination of everyone's first letter in their respective names. Azlan/Apis/Alia, Bet/Bai, Lene, Yeen, Nordi, Syeena...perhaps. These friends of his have become so very close with my family, they have literally become a part of the family! I used to remember when I was in standard one and they were in standard five, I'd go look for any one of them when I was homesick. (haha! Homesick at school...pfft).

Then, they'd also be the ones whom I will call to fetch me from somewhere or just plain go out for meals when Abang cannot make it, or when my family's not around (to attend to my needs). Mama and daddy know them by heart and would feel very secured when I am in their hands. Mama even knows how many and who were their ex boyfriends/ ex girlfriends! Awesome huh? haha! And they don't call me by my name anymore. They call me "adik". Love them to bits, my extended kakak and abang :):)

ABLYNS 

Well, let's just say all the stressing out and crazy days paid off well because Abang didn't even see it coming! I'm proud that Mama and Daddy played the plot well too. He was well surprised alright :) His smile and too-surprised-to-even-eat gave me the best satisfaction last night. Anything to see him happy!

For a moment I felt like I was the older sibling (eventhough abang calls me his 'lil one'), since it was abang's and it's a party filled with loads of birthday present too! Usually dah besar besar ni, it's quite rare to see a party filled with mountain of gifts, but I got really excited as I laid down and arranged his little presents that everyone brought. So very sweet of everyone! :)

He decided to be very sweet and waited for me to come home from work today to open up presents. Like! :) 

Amongst all, of course I loved these the most :P

Ok, I'm broke now.

 With some of abang's favourite cousins and cousin-to-be

a happy shot with everyone is always a must!

To abang, 
Happy 27th birthday! :) Hope you loved the surprise and may you be blessed with a great new year. You definitely have the best set of friends and people who love you. You've been nothing but awesome to me, and I love you much long time! Next up will be our holiday and break from work together to London town! Can't wait!  - Much love, your one and only Lil One-

P/s : I'm officially broke now, so yeah. Whatever I wrote in the card, I really meant it. I'm not picky btw *winks* ;)

Oh dear me

Work flowed in like water this week and I officially start my professional paper classes today.

Throughout the week I was rushing through the craziest deadlines, and new deals came in by the day! Imagine rushing through something and suddenly another one come down the sky without you realizing it.... As it is, our team is pretty small and not all were based in KL this week. Things were a little intense this week, and come Wednesday, I was lacking some good sleep and happy thoughts.

Today, it just got worse.

I did not get enough sleep last night. First day of class was pretty tricky. I was tired and panicky. My body did not accept any food and my phone did not stop buzzing with a deadline to chase. So much so that my body decided to reject all that I ate and it left me feeling nauseous throughout the day.

I guess it was all accumulated since day one this week and it was all getting a lil too fast in my world. I need to sit down and decide on matters at my own pace one of these days, just for the fun of taking my own sweet time. For now, I'm looking forward to Abang's birthday celebration tonight! :).... and completing my work. Whee!

Greatest Creation Ever

Yesterday Reana asked abang

"Where's Aunty Aya?"

"She's out with Aunty Shura"

"Can she come over to my hoise (with the irish accent) tomorrow night? It's kakak's birthday"

Today, Sofea called me and asked

"Aunty Alia, where are you?"

"Happpppy birthday darling. I'm at work!"

"Why are you still at work?"

"I'm in a discussion"

"Is it about money?"

She's smart huh! I work in a Bank, so I discuss about money. Literally.

"Hahaha! No sayang. About something else with my officemates"

"Ok. Are you ready to come already? Can you finish work early today and come celebrate my birthday with us?"

How can I say no to that?

"Of course sweetheart. Where do you wanna go?"

"McDonalds!" (Multiply that with a thousand times of excitement!!)

"Huh? -__-"

The simplest things in life that makes me happy and makes me smile. These kids are so innocent, everything makes them happy. And when I'm around them, I never fail to feel like I'm living the most perfect life ever. Being with them always makes me count my blessings. Amin. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAJA ERIN SOFEA!

 McDonalds = Happy food

 My number one supporter whom I decided to drag along for some after-work catch up

 My favourite married cousins :) My cousins I'm so very proud of, for they have now come back to Malaysia for good to serve the country and saving lives. I wish I was half as successful as them two Doctors. One day. Amin :)

 My favourite Irish nieces. They used to be my happy pills back when I was studying in London and the ones I spent christmas with every year :)

 You know I'm out with the lil ones when you find this in my bag!

and I become the paranoid aunty who keeps cleaning her hands when she touches just about anything

Just before we left, Reana asked "Can you come over and sleep at my hoise? Daddy can send you to work tomorrow". Haha...As much as I want to say no, I'd better not encourage them, or we might just end up spending the night away playing and not going to school/work tomorrow. So I told her I'll see them this weekend and what happens next?

They gave me the biggest hug and sloppy kisses (eeewww) before they said "We love you aunty Aya. You're my favourite aunty"

Now I wish I could pack them in my pockets and take them along with me everywhere everyday. A perfect way to end a crazy hectic working Monday indeed :)