Rabu, November 10, 2010

"Maid of iron"

Location: Palace of the Golden Horses

I was at a creative workshop the past 2 days. A great way to "re-meeting" (if I could introduce, invent or more like "creating" a new term!) old friends.

On the second day, we played a lot with pictures and colors and there was a session called "pick a picture".

No, I won't expose the creative techniques we've learnt from our very creative facilitators. But how this "pick a picture" exercise reminds me so much of Ammar flash card moment when we was 3 or 4 year old.

I was flipping through the cards for visual, followed by verbal. Ammar obediently copied like a sweet little parrot.

Ball.
Cat.
Dog.
Bird.
Car.
Bus.
Shoes.
Socks.
Short.
Flower.
Leaf.
Tree.
Book.
Pan.
Plate.
Cup.
Radio.
Iron.
.....
.....
.....
(while pointing to the picture of an iron on an iron board)
"Mummy, itu Bibik punya!"

Hale to my creative answer-giver-darling-son!

Oh, one study fact shared by the workshop instructor is that we use up 70% of our brain capability at the age of 4 (way to go Ammar!), down to 15% at the of 7 and only 2% at the age of 40. Studies also showed that those who exercise his or her creativity regularly - that's create + activity - appear younger than his/her real age. So come on, let's C.R.E.A.T.E people!

(Hmm, no wonder I feel like I'm still in my late 20's. Oh, that's just a hint for you that I'm not turning into 4 series any time soon - boohoo - or it is just plane denial stage, right people??)

While I was writing the above, Ammar walked into the room with his iron maid, humming a familiar song.

"Pandainya Abang sing..."

"That's a new song, Bibik. Teacher thought me at school. I need to practice for my concert..."

"Gud boii!" Replied my maid. Oh yes, our maid-of-iron is a superb "iron lady". she's amazingly absorb a lot of things quickly and picks up a lot of English too within this five excellent years staying with us, thanks to Playhouse Disney Channel! Huhu...

Isnin, Oktober 25, 2010

Mind Your Language

Location: Laundry shop with the "Laundryers" (Not the Londoner!)

I was at the laundry sending my new found love from Dorothy Perkins for dry-cleaning earlier. Then came this very young man - tall dark and handsome. No, he's not an African American. He's pure local. But a very well-groomed, metro-sexual local guy - so I figured - with great Londoner accent.

Or probably he's not local after all...

I was with the female laundry shop operator while this well-groomed, metro-sexual local guy with Londoner accent rushed into the shop, straight to the other male shop operator. Bare in mind that both of them behind the counter are not the shop owners. They aren't local either.

"Do you do delivery service? Do you do delivery service? Delivery?" The local guy asked.

"Cakap Melayu. Cakap Melayu, faham. Cakap orang putih, tak tau!" Came the replied from both humble Vietnamese working behind the counter.

...And yet I chose to write this entry in English!

Khamis, April 29, 2010

'Missing Chapters' is now officially an 'Abandoned Chapters'! Haha

Location: Home Sweet Home...

Yeah, I'm too lazy to write now because my job in the office already requires me to write, write and write... So I'm just too lazy to even log in to my fb. Bad Fiza bad.

I got so many things to share here but I just don't know where to start. Hubby would understand why...

You see, I have this disorder of organizing things accordingly. Everything should be in accesding order - whether you start it in alphabetical order of A-B-C or just a simple 1-2-3 or 1.001, 1.002, 1.003 or 1a, 1b, 2e, 3g... So here is my problem, the places I went to, the events I've attended were all based on dates - so untill I have organized my thoughts and memory of WHEN I went first, then only I can blog again. Or hubby wont call me Mrs. Monk for no reason... I'm abnormal you say? I AM NOT NOT NORMAL! Everything just have to be organised. That's all.

------------------------

On another note, I notice Ammar has developed more and more communication skill, story-telling ability and not to mention, cool 'animated' imagination!

One night, after reciting his usual Al-Fatihah prayer before going to sleep, he repeated my favourite claim, "Ammar, you are my darling and Zara is my sweetheart. You're my son and Zara is my daughter,"

His version, however, was: "Mummy, I'm your darling and Adik is your sweetheart..."

(PAUSE)

"Mummy, I'm your sun and Adik is your moon..."

(PAUSE)

"Mummy, that makes you my star!"

(PAUSE)

Then I asked, "If you are the sun, Adik is the moon and Mummy is the star... what would Babah be?"

(PAUSE)

"Err... Babah is my TRANSFORMER! My father is strong. He can change to anything you know..."

And the latest one, we are teaching ourselves to forgive everyone every night. Ammar said let us all be the better person...

So good night TRANSFORMER! (If you're reading this) You have one 'hot' creative and a very kind-hearted son/sun!

Selasa, Januari 26, 2010

Ammar's beautiful song

Location: Home

I came back late one night and Ammar already has a song for me! He sang this after reciting al-Fatihah...

Mummy is my star,
Mummy is my best friend,
I don't want to sleep alone,
Mummy will come home,
I miss you so much...

Selasa, Januari 12, 2010

Anugerah Juara Lagu ke-24 2009

Lokasi: LIVE @ home!

Antara perkara menarik tentang AJL ke-24 dari pengamatan saya yang bukan siapa-siapa dalam indusri hiburan negara:

1. Tak 'draggy' dengan pemansuhan kategori dan 3 gandingan 'anchor hosts' yang witty - Ally, Cheryl dan FBI -- ada chemistry dan tak menjemukan! Jauh lebih baik jika dibandingkan dengan gandingan Fafau-Afdlin Shauki dalam Anugerah Skrin (maaf yer abang Afdlin!). Ada sesuatu yang tak kena walaupun Fafau dan AS masing-masing punya kredibiliti dan charm yang tersendiri. Mungkinkah gandingannya yang tak berapa sesuai atau skrip yang kurenggg? Tak pun, bak kata Stacy, ops, terlebih sudah!!!

2. Tema yang mudah diadaptasi jadi tak ada rekaan baju yang bukan-bukan sehingga mencetuskan kontroversi - Maaf, sekali lagi memetik tema 1001 Malam ala Arabian Night menerusi Anugerah Skrin, ada yang tutup di atas tapi buka di bawah...

3. Selain artis senior Faizal Tahir dan Misha Omar, AJL dimonopoli artis-artis muda dari program realiti TV yang rata-ratanya dilabel 'artis mi segera'. Tetapi saya percaya, yang membawakan mereka ke tahap AJL yang dibarisi juri-juri profesional adalah disebabkan bakat yang menepati citarasa semasa... They are the answer to the current demand and supply. Yang menonton rancangan secara langsung ini? Mencecah angka 4.5 juta (Dari sumber saya. Mungkin ada yang boleh mengesahkan fakta ini).

* I always like the song Bercinta by Faizal Tahir about the love-hate relationship. Plus, I love Akim's perfomance with the string strap in the AF7 final concert. Creative. Very creative. And it's amazing to see Akim performing his own 'Bengang' number alongside the original singer FT (of 'Bercinta' song that granted him 3rd place overall) on the same AJL stage -- so close but yet so far!

4. Dengarnya belambak-lambak pemegang tiket dan jemputan yang 'tersadai' di luar pintu masuk Stadium Bukit Jalil sebab tempat duduk dah penuh sangat. Bukan sekadar tak dapat menonton di luar sebab tak ada skrin besar yang disediakan; malah para ada yang diarah pulang pula... Berapa kapasiti stadium? Dan berapa pula tiket yang dikeluarkan dan jemputan yang diedarkan yer? Musykil, musykil. (Dari sumber saya. Mungkin ada yang boleh mengesahkan fakta ini).

5. Rezeki Aizat yang tidak jemu-jemu memperjuangkan kreativiti seni dari hati yang tulus, mulus... mungkin juga rezeki pasangan bercinta bila sama-sama berjaya menggondol anugerah teratas dalam bidang masing-masing -- LJ dalam bidang lakonan dan Aizat dalam bidang nyanyian. Tahniah!

6. Persembahan selingan 'Tribut Buat Era Kegemilagan Kugiran' paling best dan sangat bermakna bagi peminat muzik tanahair. Usaha TV3 menjejaki dan membawa kembali Datuk Jeffrydin & The Siglap 5, Carefree dan Search sebelum menampilkan band anak muda Meet Uncle Hussein dengan penampilan Black Mentor 3 harus diberi kredit. Tak perlu persembahan yang bukan-bukan dengan baju penari berbulu pelepah berwarna-warni atau props yang merepek, meraban... Pasti terubat melihat kembali 'the pop yeh yeh swing', rambut afro Jay Jay dan seluar ketat/kilat beserta rambut rock Amy Search!

* Do you know that Black's (of that Mentor 3 show) real name is Muhammad Hanafi Hanafiah??

* I would like to end this entry by quoting a nicely put article written by miss Azhariah Kamin from The STAR online, http://star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2010/1/12/music/5448788&sec=music for your ref:

"...Unlike previous years, this year’s event was highly enjoyable as the singers performed their level best with commendable showmanship.

It came as a flash of new hope for the music industry.

Gone are the days when singers turned up in elaborate costumes and backed by busloads of dancers with those same old dance steps.

What we saw on Sunday night was fresh creativity from young talents such as Aizat, Yuna, Hujan and Bunkface.

Even though the night undoubtedly belonged to the songwriters, lyricists and singers, it was also thumbs up for TV3 for putting up such a great show..."



Ok tu je.

MABUK...




LAUT! @ lokasi: Tasik Putrajaya.


Berkesempatan menyertai rombongan pelayaran SINAR FM di Tasik Putrajaya setelah lagu Pelangi Petang nyanyian Allahyarham Sudirman Hj. Arshad menggungguli '100 RETRO SINAR 2009', saya dan suami memang tidak menyangka ia antara malam terindah pembuka tahun 2010 -- jauh dari hiruk-pikuk kotaraya dan penat lelah kerja yang menimbun! Tiada pelangi petang itu, perjalanan kami cuma diiringi hujan gerimis dan disambut secara eksklusif oleh pihak Cruise Putrajaya!

SINAR sekali lagi tidak lupa meraikan acara ini bersama 10 pendengar bertuah yang menyertai peraduan dalam talian ini. Antara mereka ada yang datang jauh dari bandar Melaka. Namun, saya berani jamin dan buat kesimpulan bahawa perjalanan jauh mereka tentunya 'berbaloi-baloi' (meminjam 'tagline' iklan Celcom) dengan layanan istimewa daripada Team SINAR dan pihak Cruise Putrajaya sendiri. Makan malam hidangan Hotel Shangri La pun memang sedap! Dua kali saya tuntun 'hot bun & butter' tu tau!

Ada ker yang mabuk laut?? Jawapannya SUAMI sendiri! Huhu... Suami saya mengaku ada tikanya terasa juga macam mabuk laut... (Or should it be 'mabuk tasik'??) Saya pun dah lama tak menjenguk Pak Tam, Zul, Kak Abby, Abang ZZ, Krill dan SY serta Hani dari Unit Publisiti. Oh seperti biasa, S.Y paling menghiburkan dengan sesi karaoke-nya! Lagu Inul yang gerudi sakan pun si dia LAYANZZZZZZZZZZZ!! Dan paling mengejutkan tentunya berita L.O yang telah mengambil keputusan meninggalkan SINAR. Sekian lama Linda Onn berkhidmat di AMP SDN BHD -- dari zaman kegemilangannya di ERA sehingga 'survival period' nya di konti SINAR, akhirnya Linda 'tunduk' kepada kehendak semasa yang menuntut dirinya mengundur, membawa diri. Apa sebabnya? Hmm, apa jua tafsiran anda dan saya, saya percaya Linda punya sebab tersendiri dan hormatilah keputusannya yang pasti tidak mudah untuknya sampai ke tahap itu. Untuk ini, saya tujukan lagu di tangga ke-55 Bukanku Tak Cinta nyanyian Iklim (dari Linda kepada SINAR) dan lagu di tangga ke-94, 'Jangan Ada Benci' nyanyian Casey untuk SINAR, L.O, pihak pengurusan dan para pendengar.

Buat pendengar-pendengar setia L.O di SINAR, kesimpulan daripada ucapan perpisahan Linda malam itu sedikit sebanyak dapat saya kaitkan dengan pepatah lama Inggeris yang berbunyi, "If you love something, set it free; if it is yours, it will come back to you..." Mungkin dalam kes Linda, beliau tak akan berpatah balik. Linda tak "mabuk" dengan pencapaian peribadinya; "she's just moving on..." Pendapat saya yang tak seberapa, sebagaimana Linda membawa 'fan-base' yang besar yang menyumbang kepada peningkatan jumlah pendengar SINAR, pemergian Linda pasti juga sedikit-sebanyak menggugat figura tersebut. Lagu di tangga ke-91, 'Kau Merubah Segalanya' (Fauziah Latiff) paling sesuai!

Untuk itu, tak boleh 'mabuk-mabuk' (sebab Kak Nila yang mengandug anak ketiga pun dah tak ada loya-loya dah!), SINAR kena terus bertahan atau memperkenalkan satu variasi baru/segar dalam perjuangan elemen retronya yang setakat ini masih menggungguli genre kelompok lagu-lagi malar segar. Menjelang 2010, siapa agaknya yang bakal muncul mencabar kedudukan stesyen ketiga terbaik Malaysia keseluruhan dengan format Bahasa Malaysia ini ya? Kena pro-aktif, jangan tunggu sampai ada persaingan sengit baru nak kelam-kabut buat perubahan. Itu kan langkah orang kurang berilmu namanya? Bak lagu Mega di tangga ke-9, jangan jadi 'Bayangan Gurauan'. Ini pendapat saya sajalah...

Namun satu perkara menarik tentang SINAR, ia bukan sebuah stesyen radio yang 'mabuk-mabuk' tak tentu hala, kacau-bilau dengan gandingan penyampai berebut-berebut nak bersuara atau bising-bingit dengan jeritan suara dalam iklan mahupun penyampainya sendiri... Call me old but, SINAR memang relaks, santai dan sempoi. Saya mungkin sukar menerima sesetengah lagu rock tangkap lelehnya, tapi kredit saya berikan buat para penyampainya yang bukan dari kalangan calang-calang orang - semuanya berpengalaman -- been there and done that type of people, matured, pofessional and approachable. Mark my words, a lot of people can be friendy but that doesn't mean they are approachable. Adat orang kita, cakap berlapik, bersikap diplomasi dan tidak mengikut emosi hati... Dan sekali lagi, ni cuma pendapat saya sajalah (yang pernah berada dalam Team tu)...

Semoga 2010 menjadi tahun yang lebih sukses buat Team SINAR, yang kini diwartakan kembali orang-orang kuat dan pakar unit web belakang tabirnya yang sebelum ini ''dipinjamkan'' sementara kepada Digital 5! Selamat kembali Ijan, Shukri, Irene a.k.a 'Siti Irena' dan rakan-rakan. Selamat kembali ke pangkuan Zul Ahmad, sifu saya yang bersih, cekap dan amanah. Cuma mungkin cik abang Jepf lebih bahagia di sana bersama murai batunya... hehe :)

Semoga adik-adik Ejen saya - Jaja, Shah, Eman bersama Bam, Shafiq dan Zack, juga akan terus meningkat dewasa (matured NOT old!!) di samping terus menimba pengalaman menjadi individu yang lebih besar jiwa dan cita-citanya! Jangan mabuk laut (sebab tak tahan naik bot), mabuk cinta sampai kerja terbengkalai, mabuk kumpul wang dan harta hingga membelakangkan kawan-kawan. Teruslah 'Memburu Impian!' (Lagu Kazar di tangga ke-15).

Untuk keputusan akhir 100 RETRO SINAR 2009, klik http://www.sinar.fm/info/Notis/default.asp?id=33


Sabtu, Januari 09, 2010

Living on a jet plane!

Location: Malaysian Airlines Academy (MAA) Subang.

I was late to a press conference. Again. I almost gave up finding my way there. Almost. But when I was about to hit the highway back to KL, something told me 'just go; you're already here...' -- And how glad I was to reach there, even thought the press were already in their Q&A session.

But that's not my point... on behalf of Astro RIA-Malaysian Airline System's new project, you and I (ok maybe not me and my fellow Astro colleagues...) are now able to win an ASEAN holiday package.

Remember how we always have the amatur holiday video making? It's time to put it into a good use. It's no silly thing I tell you, coz you got to host your own holiday trip. All you need to do is to start polishing that TV 'pesona' you have always dream of in front of the toilet mirror! This is another reality show, which Astro has ventured into. It's cool -- who doesn't one a free holiday? Plus the opportunity, where some hidden talent are about to be disovered too. Yes, I'm talking about YOU!

Send in a 4R photo with a writeup of no longer than 350 words why you deserve to win this dream vacation... Hurry, closing date is this Jan 31st and the juries are looking for only 20 creative entries. First round, 12 will be shortlisted. Then the final 7 will get the chance to show to the home viewers what your destination of your choise have in store for them. Elimination are made by public vote. For more information, click http://mastraveller.com/SayaNakCuti/