Ah, its weekend ...

Another weekend at my doorstep.

I waited for weekend.

But when weekend arrived .... I sometimes feel lost.

* I headed to KLCC (Petronas Twin Towers) this morning, just feel like having caramel capuccino at San Francisco Coffee (SFC) and looking for books that I found on Amazon.

* But alas, there's no seat at SFC when I arrived. (around 10 am).

So I have to change to another cafe and ended up having a terrible capuccino.

* After not so enjoyable breakfast experience, I headed to Kinokuniya Book Store. I went straight to the computer and checked the books that I was loking for. But again, it's a frustrating experience! The titles are available in their system, but the books are not!

* That's one of my biggest regrets when it comes to bookstore in Malaysia!

We don't have good bookstore in Kuala Lumpur. Remember, I shared my frustration with you when I was looking for certain books at Borders in Berjaya Times Square?

* Maybe I should open my own bookstore.  

* It seems that I have to opt for Amazon. One of the disadvantage being in this part of the world is that the postage charges can be 'amazingly high'. Herb sent me 8 books as a present during my recent birthday. Guess what? The postage charges cost more than the total price of the books!

* Oh BTW I was looking for 2 titles by Roger Deakin: "Note from Walnut Tree Farm" and "Wildwood - a Journey Through Trees".  But end up buying books that I wasn't looking for :

• The Green Guide Languedoc, Roussillon and Tarn Gorges (Michelin)
• A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
• The Power of Kindness by Piero Ferrucci

* Anyway, I hope you all have great weekend. While I continue flipping through The Green Guide, I'll leave you to strain your eyes with my latest sketching of columbine flower - the rare view. Happy viewing

 

We've Always Had Paris ... and Provence

This room, the one that the previous owner called 'la salle blanche',

because it was all white, had the window of my dreams.

The top of my head just brushed the top of its frame,

and though I have to stoop a bit, the mountain view was majestic.

The window faced due west, so each evening as the sun set in a ball of reddish-orange fire,

I would be drawn to that spot, watching as the day said goodbye over Mont Theos.

I was determined that someday I would peel carrots at that window.

This room HAD to become my kitchen.

 

The above are excerpt from the book that I am currently reading: We've Always Had Paris ... and Provence (A scrapbook of our life in France). It was written by Patricia Wells and her husband Walter. Patricia  is long recognised as the leading American authority on French food and her husband, Walter, live the life in France that many of us has often fantasized about. She's also the author of "The Food Lover's Guide to Paris" and "The Food Lover's Guide to France".

I bought this book when Howard and I started talking about our next holiday destination - we were thinking of Paris. But now after reading this book, I feel like I am at 'Chanteduc' their farmhouse in Provence. I imagine myself picking cherry, plump, figs - especially the deep purple variety known as St. Jean in their orchard. Oh, not to forget what in the herb gardens - sorrel, chives, lemon verbena, borage, basil, thyme,mint, lemon balm, hyssop, purslane - among others (and she also has her own caper bush!). I would also love to walk in her pastel-colored garden - pale purple agapanthus, pure white roses, and of course what Provence famous for - freshly opened lavender!

While reading this book, I also discovered something that I never heard about, 'the truffle'! They have the rare black truffles hid beneath the soil of their vines. Do you know how they hunt for truffles in Provence? They used dogs instead of pig - you don't have to fight the dog for the truffle, as you do with the pig (pigs are carnivores). My cooking guru knows how people in France train their dogs to hunt for truffle - you got to ask him if you want to know details

Now, Howard and I will have to decide whether Paris or Provence and the countryside. Howard said he's been to Paris more than 10 times. And I am not so much into shopping while on holiday, except if I were given plenty of money and forced to go shopping ... then I'll happily abide!  Otherwise the money is more for airtickets/transportation, accomodation and food and also experiencing the countryside.

 

The Prince and I

 

I hope the heart and love day went well for everyone

I have been quite occupied lately with the preparation for my university Inaugural Convocation. Few rehearsals and having to re-write the script But it is almost over .... This morning we have the final full dressed rehearsal at the venue and it went well. Tomorrow, 16th February 2009 our first badge - 32 graduands from various countries - of Chartered Islamic Finance Professional will be conferred their degrees.

Oh, I almost get carried away ... actually I would like to talk about this charming Prince that I met at the bookstore at Petronas Twin Towers not long ago. He is the most handsome and educated Prince in the country . When I was a student he was the Pro-Chancellor (the youngest Pro-Chancellor, maybe in his early 30's) in the University that I was studied. During my convocation, my friends and I - being young and naive - were hoping that he would be the one who conferred the degree to us. But alas, he came only for the morning session and we didn't get a chance to shake hand with him . Few months ago, I met this Prince in person when I was browsing at the Politics and International relations section! At first I didn't realise it was him. He was standing right beside me .... I noticed there's a big and tall guy beside me but I didnt pay attention until he walked to the other side of the shelf, which means he's infront of me - the shelf is not so high because it is more of a display shelf for new arrival and best sellers. My heart stop beating! Even though he's now in his 50's! And I was to shy to even smile The following Saturday, I hanged out at the same bookstore again while waiting for my facial appointment at 11.30 am. I normally will stopped at the new arrival and bestsellers to check what the latest books. And guess what! He - The Prince! - was there at the same section!!! I thought I was dreaming ... but when I pinched myself, ouch! he's real!

But what I would like to talk about today is not that Prince.

It's different Prince.

My Prince. The Prince of my heart! Take a look!

To him .... I am the Princess And here's the Princess ... waiting ....

The above sketches are among my newly found hobby I have been playing with pencils and eraser lately - trying to get my right brain to work . LOL .

There's already a homework waiting for me - Herbie has commissioned me to skecth the Valentine roses that he sent yesterday!

But he has to wait patiently .... otherwise if I get angry I may end up sketching him 10 years older Errrr .... I am just kidding Darling ..... Pssstttt, I have to skecth whatever he ask me , otherwise I may not get my new Derwent pencil set.

Love - Larra

 

Gifts from the Mountain

All things happen for a reason.

Something happen to me at work yesterday.

It really has stirred up the fire of my anger!

I can say that I was mad enough to choke!

But one of my habit ... I won't say anything when I am too angry.

 

I remember this old quotes that has become part of me:

" For the word that sting the deepest is the word that never spoke.

Let the other person wrangle till the storm has blown away,

then he'll do a heap of thinking about things you didn't say."

 

So, to distract my mind from thing that just happened,

I headed to our University library - my perfect hide out -

and browsing the shelf that has books on quality.

I didn't find anything interesting and continue browsing to the next section,

then I saw a title on the spine of one of the book

"Gifts from the Mountain" by Eileen McDargh.

I pulled out the book and I already fall inlove with cover

.

.

I flipped through the first few pages ... and I liked what I saw!

.

.

Each page is illustrated with stunning watercolor paintings.

Mind you I didn't actually 'read' I just wanted to look at something that can divert me from my 'current state of mind' .

I took the book to the counter to borrow it and headed back to my office.

It's a simple book!

Simple enough to make you sit and ponder.

The sub-title of this book is 'Simple Truths for Life Complexities'.

What's in this book is nothing new.

 

Like what the author said in her Prologue:

"In many ways it will remind you of what you already know

but have forgotten in the tension of time constrains, work worries, and family frustrations.

Some passages will jar your memory while others might evoke a new awareness and result in action."

 

We all have our own mountain.

There's always a challenge that demands our attention or a complication looking for simplification.

But first, I need to thank the person who had stirred my anger.

If not because of 'that person' I won't discover this book.

 

Happy reading!

 

Love - Larra

 

 

One Sunday afternoon ....

"Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it. "

The above are words of Khaled Hosseini in 'The Kite Runner' that I have just finished reading today. Most of you must have heard of this book which was published in 2003 and has become an international bestseller. I have been reading this book since last week after finishing 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'. These two books were a Christmas gift from Herbie - a limited edition signed by the author.

It's been a quiet Sunday for me .... been resting while reading and sipping oolong tea.

I wasn't feeling well since the last few days. Cooked myself chicken soup yesterday ... and I am feeling much better today.

But still I am missing someone ..... the chair beside me is empty ...

And I can almost hear the sounds of my own thought .....

"Said the Sun to the Moon -"When you are but a lonely white crone,

And I, a dead King in my golden armour somewhere in a dark wood,

Remember only this of our hopeless love

That never till Time is done

Will the fire of the heart and the fire of the mind be one."

('Heart and Mind', Edith Sitwell from The Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse)

The Heart

 

All the knowledge I possess everyone can acquire,

but my heart is all my own.

~Goethe~

*

*

The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart,

The secret anniversaries of the heart...

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

*

*

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart ...

Who looks outside, dreams.

Who looks inside, awakens.

~Carl Jung~

Helloooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hellooooo ....... what are you looking at?

My new teeth? They are pretty, aren't they?

With these new teeth, there's nothing that I cannot chew!

.

Including Grand aunty Larra's remote control. But .... mummy wanted me to drink Yakult instead

Oh, I almost forget to introduce myself .... I beg your pardon. I am Balqis Izzati .... I also have another name 'Ain Balqis' ... but you can call me Aqis. Yes, that's right we have met before .... remember these pictures? These pictures were taken when I was 1 month and 7 days old ... I know, those days were the happiest days in my life this far ....

.

Today, 3 January 2008 .... I am 1 year old! Euwwwwww, I am getting older! Anyway, Happy Birthday to me! Happy Birthday to me!

I wonder whether Mummy or Daddy or Grand aunty Larra bought me any present? Mummy took me out for shopping at Ikea on 1st January 2009.

She bought pink stool for me and blue one for my sister Ain Batrisya. I hope that ugly stool is not my birthday present. I hope Mummy or Grand aunty Larra will get me new gadget like latest Nokia or Blackberry Bold handphone so that I can talk to my sister whenever I feel bored at Grandma's house. Oh, did I tell you that my sister Ain Batrisya will start going to kindergarden this coming Monday? She's so excited - she said she will be meeting new friends and she will be busy playing with them. And I'll be alone with Grandma!

Errrrr, I think I better stop here. I need to get ready .... I heard mummy and daddy planning a surprise birthday party for me tonight! So, see yaaa at my birthday party! Pssssttttt, please don't wear pink will you? I would love to see other colors

Tata!

Ain Balqis