New adventure

I thought I better post something before i receive calls from my blog visitors asking me whether everything is okay with me.

The last week was spent mostly in Kuala Terengganu as I conducted a seminar there and later part of the the week my company took the opportunity of the long weekend Wesak Holiday break to organise a company trip to Pulau Redang.

Pulau Redang is a paradise for people who love diving and snorkeling. I cannot swim so my snorkeling was so limited during my stay at the famous island. Anyway with some encouragement from my colleague I managed so see some colour marine lives...this was a wonderful experience...a first attempt in my life. Maybe it is time to consider taking swimming lessons...ha...ha!The sea at Pulau Redang was very choppy. In fact the one hour boat ride from the main land to the island had some us throwing up because of sea sickness. I took a lot of sour stuffs to keep everything under control in my tummy. Will try to post some photos of the trip.

I took my mother for her check up at the UM Specialist Centre and did not realise that it has moved from the main tower of University Hospital. The clinics are now housed at Lorong University (next to Malaya University guard-house PJ exit). As we did not know of the move, we had to walk from the main tower to UMSC. I also meet a few other ladies who did not know of the new place which is now more comfortable, spaces and has a look of freshness. My mother next check up will be 6 months from now.

I am considering of starting a blog of my mother's cooking recipes so that I don't have to jot them down in a book all the time. Well I would then definitely have to put in more afford as to maintain two blogs. I am not even a frequently blogger i wonder how i will manage them...well time will tell!

Organising Chairman, Relay For Life KL 2008

This comment was left by Dato' Zuraidah Atan on my previous post "The joy of having children": I decided to copy the comment on a new page instead of leaving it as “comments”.

Dear NK Valli and family and friends,

Once again, Please join our Cancer Relay For Life KL 2008 this 31st May (starts 4pm registration followed by surivors' lap at 6pm) till 1st June (last lap 10am)?
It'll be held at MSN Stasium, Bukit Jalil. You can rent tents too as it's a whole nite of happenings!

As you know, it is an event where all our cancer survivor friends, care givers and volunteers get together from all over Malaysia and enjoy ourselves!

For more details and video on our last year's RFL, please view www.cancer.org.my? By the way, thank you for joining us last year. From the bottom of my heart i thank you and your parents/family and friends for making the event last year a hugely successful one!

This year, the US Ambassador and family and staff at the USA Embassy will be joining and supporting our Cancer Relay For Life KL 2008 in a big way, not to mention folks from other embassies too!

I shall be delighted to meet up with you and family plus friends this year and please come up and say hello if you are with us that day, ok? I am easily identifiable, the one who moves around from place to place being the typical 'kay-poh-chee' whilst the true workers are our volunteers, cancer survivors and my colleagues at our National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM).

Let's Celebrate Life!

Sincere wishes,
Zuraidah
(Dato' Zuraidah Atan)
Honorary Adviser,NCSM and
Organising Chairman, Relay For Life KL 2008

The joy of having children

A few weekends ago I had visited 2 newborn babies both boys. The first baby boy now a month is the child of my two good friends. The other baby boy a few days old is the second child to my cousin and his wife. Parents were beaming with happiness on their additional found joy.

Both my friends lost their eldest daughter of 9 months due to some medical conditions. In fact while I was having my operation at the university hospital, their daughter was admitted to the pediatric wing of university hospital. A few weeks later she passed away. In the period of mourning my friends came to visit me at my home and I was really touched. They even bought me some very fancy scarves to use on my head.

I am really happy for them to have as God has conferred another bundle of love once again. This baby boy is in the pink of health. My friend herself, who has got her own set of medical conditions, had to endure tremendous pain and anguish during the delivery of her son…the power of mother’s love to endure the impossible for her child.

Another amazing lady I met over this weekend is my new found friend with disabilities who uses a wheel chair. My friend is so actively involved in NGOs now that she is retired and it is really enjoying life to the fullest.

It is important to be with people who are positive, as they deal and manage with challenges it gives us more confidence, strength and inspires us to deal with our own challenges.

I also came across this article which is very inspiring about a cancer survivor of 33 years.

Lastly, in my stint of conducting seminars nationwide, I had an interesting encounter in a hotel room in Kota Baru. The bed I occupied was filled with bed LICE! I was utterly shocked because I have heard of these crawling creatures but had not seen them before. What an enlightenment of the world under the beds and pillows…ha..ha!