A round robin

Pandering to Adik's love for lists: 2007, a year in entertainment

Favourite Book Find: Blood Red Rivers by Jean Christophe Grange
Thanks to Adik, I finally have a copy! A wonderful mystery/thriller that I discovered at Hornsey Library, back when I was in London. Partly nostalgic, and partly the strength of the book, I really enjoyed revisiting this book.

Favourite Romance Novel: Games of Command by Linnea Sinclair
Was torn between putting this in romance or sci-fi, being both (and managing to straddle the two genres comfortably) but decided to put it here because it is my favourite romance not my favourite sci-fi (as interesting as it was as a sci-fi).

Favourite Children’s Novel: Just in Case by Meg Rosoff
Bought this one on a whim, not knowing either book nor author. Was blown away by the solid writing and tight plot (kept me up all night when it was supposed to be a bedtime read), and interesting characters. It was funny without being slapstick but not so sophisticated that children can't understand the humour.

Favourite Science Fiction/Fantasy Book: Empire by Orson Scott Card
Although, to be fair, a winner by default since it was the only sci-fi book I read this year. Not a sci-fi year. But it was a good book, nonetheless.

Favourite Non-fiction Book:The Digital Photography Book Vol 1 and 2 by Scott Kelby
Newcomers to photography should read this easy to understand (and follow) book. Even those with point and shoot cameras would benefit.

Favourite Blog about books: Nalini Singh's blog
Okay, not really a blog about books all the time but I find have discovered Linnea Sinclair through her, and that earned major brownie points.

Favourite Sequel: Hostage to Pleasure by Nalini Singh
A surprising one - Dorian not being a particular favourite of mine but I really liked the heroine. :) The changeling series is really good, (although I do think the author gets better the more she writes), and is worth a read, even if you don't usually read romance.

Most Disappointing Sequel: The Mummy 3
Mums are ridiculously behind times - I got to watch this on rental DVD! Hated the show...except for Jet Li. But I can never hate Jet Li (hello, I watched the One and liked it!), so it does not signify.

Most Disappointing Book: The Lady in Blue by Javier Sierra
I have a feeling if I had not read Shadow of the Wind first, I might actually like this one. But if I had not read Shadow of the Wind, I would have never picked this up. I do not know what possessed me to buy this book; not that it was bad. Just stupendously boring. It is more of a Dan Brown than Shadow of the Wind, and I found Dan Brown really boring. Even the movie!

Most Disappointing Trilogy: The Sign of Seven trilogy by Nora Roberts.
A villain who is actually a demon and is called Lazurus Twisse. It gave me a craving for Twisties.
(As Adik put it. Agreed. Especially on the Twisties bit.)

Favourite English Song: Bleeding Love (Leona Lewis)
Me, and the rest of Singapore (according to Power 98), and Asia (MTV).

Most Weird Show that Adik ever made me watch: Jeritan Sepi

Favourite re-discovered show: Tru Calling
Died before its completion, no one really liked this show, I guess. I do, and was glad when SciFi Channel aired it.

Books I wished I had finished reading: The Dune series. I discovered this just after my A levels and since then I am still stuck at Dune Messiah. Argh.

Sands of time

Ain has been successfully married. I feel happy for her, but I also feel a sense of loss. Not that I mind her getting married, or to Jazi. It's just that our girlhoods have passed, and I think fondly of those days when only our circle of friends matter most. But I am happy for her, to have found someone who loves her and will cherish her, as he had had the past years.

Watched Vicar of Dibley Christmas specials (yummy Richard Armitage!). V funny, I should start watching the whole series. I am such a Brit-com girl.

Up next...Azah! Hee hee. I am sure she is very excited.

Wiped Out

One week of sleepless nights, wailing baby, giving medicine...and a sleeping baby on my tummy. Rehan was horribly sick last week - went to doc 3 times, he's still coughing a little. I am recalled to the first six months...how did I survive?

He's better now.

I have four weddings on the 28th. Wail!

Welcome to the motoring community

I have a license to drive. Hee hee. Not a license to kill (God forbid.) 

Am very happy because I passed my driving test today. More excited that I do not need to attend more lessons than to actually drive. Hee hee. 

Lots of hees today. :)

DIY

Am contemplating taking a carpentry and home DIY course next year. Tried ITE but there was not any. :( Any suggestions, guys?

Not going to be a carpenter! Just want to fix stuff and make own shelving units if needed. Brrr, it's hard to be so dependent on others for even basic drilling.

New resolution: Independent woman!

Bubbles

When you belong to a certain group who think the same way, you tend to reinforce each others' weaknesses. It is good (yet uncomfortable) to be with a variety of people. I have to remind myself that sometimes. But growing is hard, whether you are one and a half or twenty six.

This year, I chose not to grow, preferring to stick my head in the sand (or to the ground if you want to be scientifically precise). Exhausted by pretending and making nice.

There is no greater comfort blanket than the warm, soft cheek of a baby coming off the breast. He smells milky sweet, feels like fuzzy peach, and yummy enough to eat. (You do not get the same effect from bottle feed, for info.) I do not have the words for that mix of tenderness, wonder and sheer joy you feel. (Mostly when he is sleeping.) You know they say love hurts. I guess it is true - cause you can love so much your heart actually hurts. Not quite the meaning of the phrase, but true nonetheless.

Rehan is becoming a very affectionate boy. He kisses me when he wakes up before he runs off to play, he hugs me spontaneously, pats me softly. It's freaky sometimes how he seems to know just when I need it. But when you live with someone every minute of the day, it is inevitable you can sense their moods. Apparently, babies are good at this...sensing parents' moods.

Are people naturally self-absorbed? I look at babies and I don't think so. Selfish, yes. Self-absorbed, no. Isn't it distressing to think you might have nurtured your own narcissistic tendencies? What do you call it when you think you are always right and every one who disagrees with you idiots? It is too depressing to converse with one,mainly because you can't! (Narcissists, not idiots. Such an ugly word, idiot. So is retard.

Just some rambling thoughts. Must be cause I have driving tomorrow and don't want to go to bed, even though I have to.

Cobaan Ramadan

Have just recovered from a particularly debilitating bout of flu. Don't often get sick or this bad but was down for a week this time. Could not manage to visit Kamal (sorry! How are you? - messaged her but i think I have her old number.).
Rehan got sick too...but not as bad as me.

Babies seem to get a wee bit cranky (wee?!) in Ramadan to boot.

I know Ramadan is supposed to be about added religiosity but I have never been very good at that. This year, I have even stopped doing even terawih because it felt more like duty than prayer. And that's not the laziness talking (okay, maybe a bit). Despite outward appearance, I suspect I am not as good as some of my other (non-tudung) friends...which just goes to show, you can't judge people based on tudung alone! Not that I had thought otherwise but I have always known my own grey (spotted?) heart. Of course,we should not judge anyone at all really, but how many people do? Ha ha.

This year, I have come to the realization that religion is really not about these little rituals, although they help you (me)to think of God (when I am not comatose with fatigue, that is). God is not incidental to life, He is an integral part of it. This is not a particularly sobering realization but a joyful one. Because religion is about God, the everyday things you do can be religious. Stupid, unfulfilling things like cooking and laundry can be an act of worship for they are acts of kindnesses.

Most of all, I think of God and how great He is when I look at Rehan. Mostly when he is peacefully sleeping cos that's the only time I can think *snicker*. Seriously, when I think of the difficulty of bringing him to term, his narrow shaves as he toddles along, I thank God for protecting him. When I think of his inquisitiveness and intelligence, I thank God for blessing him. And when I see him do something sweet, like massaging me when he thinks I am tired, I thank God for answering my prayers.

Sometimes you get too tired to see past the laundry poles and forget about God, that's all.


Today, was recipient of three random acts of kindnesses! (A small girl gave her balloon to Rehan, someone retrieved it, and someone(1/7-ner!) forgave my pathetic memory for names with gentleness and grace). Says something about me more than the state of the world that they shocked me. I even stood gaping at the girl.

Finally, Adik...happy birthday and lovies. To the kindest, fairest soul I have ever known. Another reason for me to be thankful to God - a sister like you. May Allah bless you with joy and contentment in this life and after, in whatever form it may take.