The runaway cow.

It was the second day of Eid Adha when I heard this story. A cow from our next door neighbourhood (does that even make sense? I can't think of the word) apparrently escaped from sacrifice. It practically ran off and nearly knock over the people at the surau. Grateful no one got injured.

Guess where it ran off to?

Our neighbourhood surau. Just after our last cow has been sacrifice and everyone starting to pack their things. So to ease the jobs, the sacrifice of the 'runaway' cow was done here.

It made me think Ma Sha Allah, how Allah plan that the cow was made to sacrifice at our neighbourhood and not the next and that exact place and time when it's life could easily been taken away at the before surau or any other place or not at all. What Allah decreed is sure to happen. I thought.

I know I'm rambling but hope the idea is there.

Eid Mubarak!

The Girl in a Hood

First time cooking nasi lemak and for GUESTS?!

Today was my first time cooking nasi lemak and happens that my first time is not just for me and family, but also for my youngest brother's friends that coming over for their study.

I was nervous. 

I know I'm a pretty decent cook but still cooking for guests are something I left for my dad as the main chef except snacks and helping the kitchen in general. I know I probably was just freaking out. I have made sambal before, boiling eggs and frying the anchovies are pretty simple but I don't even know how much the ratio of cooking the rice. How much coconut milk is just nice? Do I need to put other ingredients as well? I have no clue. Plus. My phone was hanging on dear life in my room upstairs so I can't ask my knight in shining armour Mr Google for help. Haha.

Still, it turn out well.

The sambal was a little spicier, the way I like it. The rice was less salty, again, the way I like it. The eggs and anchovies are easy peasy job so that doesn't count. Haha.

Pat in the shoulder for doing a good job,

The Girl in a Hood.

Another fasting failure.

I tried fasting again yesterday but I guess it's not meant to be either.

At least it was mid day rather than an hour before maghrib.

I was cooking my campak campak version of sambal sardine for my brother H, because he's not fasting and a poor cook. Haha. I taught him what to put and how to cut the ingredients. He was so awkward with the knife. Still, I'm proud of him for trying.

I was still fasting when the cooking was done. But I've felt maybe perhaps I'm on period already but probably not as well.

I went to check and oh well. No luck this time either. So I immediately had lunch and lunch was yummy! (I know I cooked the food but give me some credits)

I've finished my log book Alhamdulillah and sent it to the pharmacy. The printing was a big hassle btw. I spent an hour manually doing the printing. I met little double U at the pharmacy. He asked why I haven't come so long. He still remembers me! Such a cute kid.

At night, I slept in late spending more than an hour catching up with my old deskmate, A. It's been years since I've meet her. Well, we never once met since we graduated. She stills so much her old self.

Campak campak,

The Girl in a Hood

P/S: I still got to fast on Monday so it wasn't that bad.

Watermelon.

I was being finishing my logbook for these past days, so that's why I'm updating now.

A few days ago, last Friday, 1st of Zulhijjah, I've tried to fast. I probably heard that fasting in the first ten days of Zulhijjah is recommended, but it's the first time I've tried. Normally I wouldn't fast when I'm at home because I get free food. Lol.

Back to story. I fasted.

Well, kinda.

I ate like 30 minutes before the maghrib azan. No joke. I was devastated myself.

It was all because I ate watermelon. The story started when my mum asked my to cut some fruits because some guests were coming over that nights and one of the fruits were watermelon.

I don't really mind cutting out the skin of the watermelon, but my mum insists. You know when you try cut the skin there would be small bits of the red parts, so out of habit I ate it. I even ate all the small end round shape parts that doesn't fit in the container.

It was something so dumb but oh well.

I hope the intention counts,

The Girl in a Hood

May Allah bless you dear stranger.

It was a week ago when this happens. My mom and I went to the CIMB bank branch where they got a bunch of atm, cdm, cheque deposit machines.. I was a little preoccupied with my paying my topup for my phone, I wasn't really took close detail of my surrounding.  Which I guess was destined to be.

So after that we went to go the market (or planning to) when my mom realise her purse is not in her handbag and another realisation hit her that she left it right on top of the atm machine!! Although, there was very little money, my mom panicked. Somehow I was calm. I was basically trying to finish my Ma'thurat recitation and somehow I thought her purse is probably still there. I also was preoccupied before that I should've more courage to give my small change to the poor person outside the bank but there were so many people around which made me shy to give in public.

When we reached the bank, I stayed in the car. My mom went out. It was until a few minutes later she didn't came back that it hit that perhaps it's true that someone may took her purse when she left it. She got back & I know from her face that her purse wasn't there. My mom asked my to recite the dua for things we had lost & recited it all the way home.

We got to our house, my mom went in first and found her purse right on the table!! Ma Sha Allah, turns out a minute before my mom and I arrive home, someone came to our house saying they found this purse left it and the bank and wondering if this is the right address (lucky my mom updated her identity card according to our latest home. I still haven't.) My brother who was at home just said it was <my mom's name> house, took the purse and said thank you. We complained a bit to him like really that's all you could've done?? At least ask for their name or number so we can thanked them properly. But, I guess Allah made them anonymous for a reason.

So stranger, thank you & best dua to you. Aamiin.

Pray my mom to not be forgetful too (and her daughter),

The Girl in a Hood

Last day of practical at Allcare Pharmacy (and a little somersault).

You know what? I couldn't even remember the title I wanted to write because I got distracted with Zain Abu Kautsar recitation of surah Al-Waqiah. It kinda makes you feel to just take a stop and just listen. Comforting. And... I've just finished eating the lasagna I'd made yesterday (which I wanted to make since like few months ago, and I only yesterday I did. Lol.). I thought it was like a only a B+ yesterday, but I can't seem to stop eating it today! It's so yummy but probably not something I can afford making every month. Cheese are soooo expensive! But lasagna is soooo yummy. *internal conflict*

Btw, a bit of a funny thing. You know when you buttering the pan to bake, you kinda want to shake the butter of the spoon. And I find it so funny that the butter like did a small somersault in the air before landing on the pan. Oh so me.. Finding the small things funny.

(I'm basically scrapping my plate now, wondering if I should take some more of this lasagna...)

I've finished my practicals last Sunday (and now it's Wednesday, and I haven't get started on my log book. Oh god I'm such a procrastinator.). I learned a lot throughout my practicals. I would like to stay & learn more, but sometimes giving yourself to do other things are just as great. Nevertheless, Abg M & Puan F, said maybe I can do a part time job at the pharmacy which I so would like to do. Hope I get the job, I kinda need the money too. It also makes me proud a bit. I thought they would think I'm not really a good employee candidate (again I'm insecure of my differences), but I guess they though otherwise.

Overall, everyone was kind and sweet. I enjoyed my stay there. Plus, not to mention there are almost always kids around at the pharmacy which I love taking care of (Hence, I'm planning next time maybe maybe I can ask for a job at the kindergarten near my house.) And I didn't expect everyone to buy me presents. Like A gave me a cute chinese keychain and F bought me some bombolone as gifts. Even, Puan F and her family bought us all some McD chicken. I was so touched and in a way, loved. <3 Thank you everyone.

Thank you everyone,

The Girl In A Hood

Kissing blood

An updates on what I did in the past few days..

To see how productive my life is. Lol.

6th of July (Saturday)
Out & about with the international students. A trip to Malacca! We were suppose to be the tour guide but I guess along the way the committees got a little too excited about exploring the city. Acah acah tourist. Haha. First time (I think) eating at a Baba Nyonya restaurant. The food was good and I have to say that I'm touched that the non-muslim tried hard to find a halal restaurant at Jonker street. I'm grateful to be there because if it's me alone would be like fish out of water. A muslim malay girl wondering in a chinese street with restaurants selling non-halal stuffs. What a scene it would be. And the trip goes on... Ohhh & the street art during the Malacca river cruise was so cool! Wish I had artsy skills. But the very highlight of the trip. Me walking straight into the glass sliding door at the middle of the night. Sure was so dumb of me. My upper lips stings before I touched it in the dark realising it bleeding. My nose bridge stills hurts a bit (my nose went flat as I bump into the glass). With intention of praying jama' takhir before I arrived home (because if I enter the area, it would consider I missed maghrib). Oh well, things happened.

7th of July (Sunday)
Visiting my aunt's house for a little 'majlis kesyukuran' and went to our old house for a bit of cleaning. Something I should note to myself. Fixing the wooden tile floor. Achievement accomplished! Haa. XD I wore a dress I hadn't worn in like 4 years. So grateful I managed to declutter my wardrobe. Even I'm not the shopping type of girl, I still have quite a lot. I try to kept what I really need & want. I'm grateful though, some can't even afford clothes. Alhamdulillah. Oh I got off topic. About our old house. It seemed so different. I hope in time, the house is nice-in up for rent (I know nice-in up is not a real word. Bear with me. Haha.). And H cut his toe. The old tv crash on his toe. Ouch. He cried & apologise for it. I told him a real man is one who can cry. :)

8th of July (Monday)
I forgot pretty much what I did on Monday. Did I declutter my wardrobe on Monday or Tuesday? Okay, definitely Monday. Lol. I tried sorting all my hijabs & non-formal attire ones. I also did some batik cakes to sell at my mom's school on Monday (it sold out btw. Alhamdulillah.). Ohhh. I forgot. This day was when I felt so high in the morning. Like today was gonna be a good day. Yada yada. Haha. Still, quite productive.

9th of July (Tuesday)
Cooked fried rice for breakfast. Went out with D for lunch & movie date! We watched Spider-Man: Far From Home. Tbh, I hoped the movie wasn't so predictable. So it was a little waste on my money because normally movie this type is great enough to be watch at home (just an opinion). But overall, it was kinda good. I haven't even watch Endgames. D scolded me for that. Haha. Back home & had a lovely pizza surprise! Yum! Did some of my work at night.

10th of July aka today (Wednesday)
Today today today.. Had pizza for breakfast. Cooked rice, blackpepper chicken & omelette for lunch. Read 5 Tahun 5 Bulan, blogs & TLL. Played Duolingo. Made another batches of batik cake to sell. I didn't expect people to buy the first one. Still so grateful. I hope it continues to get sold out. It means much to me even earning an extra 1 or 2 ringgit means a lot. That reminds me to buy the ingredients to make the next batches next week!

So that's a wrap! I hope I can pluck the strength to continue writing this blog. It means a lot to future me that likes to reflect. I'm still healing, but I'm still very proud of myself in just 6 months I progress this much. I wish sometimes the feeling that I miss the memories it's not there like now, when I write this (which I stopped me for a few seconds from writing). Tough much? Not really. I can easily turn down the feeling which for me is an accomplishment. :)

What the hell I'm even writing..

The Girl in a Hood