Wednesday 31 October 2007

Labrador "Hippie" Hawker Centre

Rating:★★★★
Category:Other
A lunch at an Ol Skool hawker centre playin 70s pop tunes is a definite mood lifter for a drizzly grey Tuesday! And throw in Teh Sarabat with an Oomph, i swear the feeling is Euphoric! Was it caffeine or ganja in that tea that gave me tis sense of ephemeral high? I was all energised after the lunch here today (my first time goin there) despite havin Nasi Campur (which usually will make me all sleepy, esp. on rainy days). Hmmm maybe its juz the Good Groovy Vibe of it all!

Hmm but i dun like the stares of the Mat Despatch, Mat Warehouse, Mat Shipyard and whatever Mats there are there, lah (i think because the whole hawker centre sold Malay & Indian Muslim food, there are lotsa malays there! i'm not racist against my own race ok, but i dun feel comfortable with too many malay guys around)

Tuesday 30 October 2007

Oh Boy, the SOTONG is a Married Man Now!




Jansen...one of Iyuan's closest buddies who shared much funny moments and good times since secondary school. I've not seen a much closer relationship between a Christian & Muslim, who put aside their differences in religion to rejoice in good companionship.

While he was servin his mission in Angola some years back, the rest of us were worried sick as there was a break out of epidemic (or was it war..) but tis dude, was all jolly and well and hurhur he fell in love! kept us all in the dark till recently, he introduced to us, Joyce.

It is such pity Iyuan & I missed their solemnization ceremony but to our "Man of God", may ur marriage be blissful & life gets even better from here on!

Jansen, how u have grown but u'll always be the sotong, ok!
*pat pat*

Oh the Antics of My Cuzzins




Sitz's lovin her long lashes for tis year's raya outin.
See Liz's reaction yet the girl's still battin her eyelashes away!
*LMAO*

Multiply Raya Affair 2007: Attackkkk!!!!




it's the third week end of Syawal yet the Festive Mood is still goin strong! look at us go...eat eat eat!!! sorry if i dun have much pics to depict the much feasting cos i was pretty much involved in the gorgin..so much for my dietin! heh

Friday 26 October 2007

Romancin the Queen


May u be blessed  with everlasting full blooms of
Love,
Wisdom,
Strength,
Joy,
Peace
&
Beauty...

Thursday 25 October 2007

Clear!

Yes!
ALHAMDULILLAH!
All thanx to The Almighty that the suspicious calcification found in my breast is BENIGN!
and what i feared most (gettin biopsy done) is Evaded!!
PHEWWWWW~~

Had to go thru another "Flatten Boobs" session (mammogram) again today juz to get the confirmation. And the results was rather immediate. The doctor & radiographer were actually kinda shocked that a 26-year old like me had to go thru such procedures.

Another info that I'd like to share from the experiences I had: Mammogram is NOT recommended for young ladies. So those of u who are young (ehem..meanin below 40), u don't have to go for mammogram to screen for breast cancer. Just do breast self examination the week after ur period is sufficient enough cos what I found out today is that young women have denser breast tissues and sometimes due to that, false positive results will appear in a mammogram.

Also, similar to what some of u had mentioned, the doctor who attended to me today told me not to worry cos calcifications and breast pains are pretty common, and there is no need for follow ups, unless i found lumps in my breast.

So for now, i can declare that i am CLEAR FROM BREAST CANCER!!

Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd!!

Thank u everyone for ur prayers, well-wishes and much love too, to the 2 darlin angels who accompanied me to the Kent Ridge Wing & Main Building of NUH in Amazin race style. haha! hope that with a blueberry waffle in hand for one of u and a pass for test for the other, u both ended the day on a good note as well!

Cheers everyone~~
 



Friday 19 October 2007

Clustered Calcifications

The Mammogram & Ultrasound results came in early and since i was hit by diarrhoea since late last nite, I made a trip to the Polyclinic to get the review as well.

The doctor said there's probably cyst or nodules in my breasts. Tsk vague description, not helpful at all but as she was busily writin down my prescription for another examination at a specialised breast clinic, I read the diagnosis written for the mammogram/ultrasound result. Clustered calcifications found on blah blah blah...BI-RAD 3 and BI-RAD 4. Those words were imprinted in my head till i get home and the doctor said that i might have to go through biopsy. See all these new terms i gotta memorise? GOOGLED!

Calcifications or microcalcifications seen on a mammogram are small mineral deposits that show up as white spots on the mammogram film. Calcifications can be benign, but may be a sign of breast cancer.

Distribution of breast calcifications

Breast calcifications are described in terms of type and distribution and categorized according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) of the American College of Radiology (ACR).

Distribution modifiers (grouped or clustered, linear, segmental, regional, diffuse) are used to describe the arrangement of the calcifications. Historically, the terms grouped or clustered were used to describe suspicious calcification. Now, these terms are neutral and may be used to describe benign or malignant processes. Grouped or clustered should be used to describe calcifications that occupy a small volume (<2 mL) of tissue.

BI-RADS to describe breast calcifications

Category 3, or "probably benign finding–short-term interval follow-up suggested," is used when a noted finding has a very high probability of being benign. The finding is not expected to change over the follow-up interval, but the radiologist prefers to establish its stability over time.

Category 4, or "suspicious abnormality–biopsy should be considered," is used when a finding has a definite probability of being malignant.

info extracted from:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002113.htm

http://www.emedicine.com/radio/byname/breast-benign-calcifications.htm

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

Astaghfirullah...

BI-RADS cat 4 don't sound too good to me and I heard that biopsy is a real painful experience. 

O Allah, give me strength to overcome this, and i really really hope that with a more thorough check, the calcifications in my breast are benign, benign, benign...and they'll poof or juz stay that way...

 

 

Wednesday 17 October 2007

Oh Sayang Syawal Menjelma Tiada Seindah Yg Sudah...








Hanya tinggal doa & kenangan sahaja berhari raya sekarang tanpamu disisi
Tiada suatu yang dapat mengubat rindu padamu di hati
Semoga Rohmu dicucuri Rahmat & dijauhi azab kubur di Aidilfitri ini
Al-Fateha utk Abah, Allahyarham Hj Mohd Yusof Bin Hj Ismail



Friday 12 October 2007

Mammogram & Ultrasound


 

Somethin that ladies around my age are not usually particularly concerned about as mammogram are encouraged for ladies who are 40 years old and above.

I had mine done yesterday due to some pains that I experienced at certain spots of my breasts last week (still experiencin the pains till today too). My paternal aunt had breast cancer, my colleague too, so in the state of paranoia, I decided to go for a check up at the polyclinic when my mum had her check-up review on her liver. The doctor recommended me to go for the 2 examinations when she found that my breasts felt lumpy and tender. Scare the wits out of me when she told me that but I had to do what was best.

Consulted my colleague on how the mammogram is done and she said it was painful and the action mimics that of a machine that i was handlin at the point when I asked her. That machine's got 2 metal plates pressin a membrane in between and she said that the breasts will be like the membrane, and they will be flatten as much as possible,and the procedure will take about 2-3 minutes. OMG *GULP*

Mentally prepared of flattened boobs, I went to the Health Promotion Board yesterday, accompanied by the Man in Green, who took time out from servin the nation. Registered & was charged about $70 for the examinations (Actual price was $150 but because I was recommended by the polyclinic,so the fees was subsidised). Was led to a room and then, the action began. Firstly my breasts were pressed between an upper plastic plate and a metal lower plate vertically, meaning the breasts were squeezed towards the left and right accordingly. Then they were squeezed horizontally. Was it painful? YES... but bearable and the radiographer was also gentle and polite. Nothin traumatic, although minutes after the procedure, i still felt pain, kinda like someone had hit my breasts  and no, my breasts definitely did not turn out like the cartoon!! THANK GOD! Phew~

Then i went on for an Ultrasound scan, where I bugged the examiner to show me what was on her screen. Juz mases of fats/tissues...hmm interesting, reminds me of scenes on tv showin mothers lyin down and tryin to spot their lil foetus. That procedure although easy, all I had to do is juz lie there with arms raised with a cool clear gel slapped on my breasts, tellin her where I felt pain as the lady ran a scanner on the surfaces of my breasts and takin shots on the tissues, took quite awhile to get over and done with. 

Well, yeah that's abt all for my breast screening experience. Juz wanna share with u abt it, especially with the ladies, cos when we are ignorant, we tend to get spooked and scared of pains and such. So no worries, when it's ur turn to do it, don't be scared stiff, Relax & Just Do It!

Now in the midst of preparation of Eid, i could only hope & pray for the best for my well-being. I am so hopin that I am not sufferin Breast Cancer or havin lumps that need to be surgically removed! 

Waitin for the uncertainties to be cleared in two weeks time...

For that someone, who is also facin a similar kinda uncertainty, I will be prayin for u too. 

Be Strong. Be Positive. Keep Faith.

 

Wednesday 10 October 2007

That Lime Plant

Since my dad passed away, i am pretty much the one entrusted to take care of the plants outside the flat. Hmm i ain't the kind of person who would actually bother to look and talk to plants, my assumed routine is juz water them every couple of days and that's it. All the plants my dad had were pretty much fuss-free & hardy to the weather.

But there's somethin not goin well with the lime plant. There's white cottony stuff growin at every joints of the branches. hmm fungus?? tried hard to recall some things i learnt in my Plant Science module in Poly. hmm no idea but i was told by a florist that those stuff were actually insects. ok so mum & i bought tis Systemic spray to rid of those stuff, sprayed twice and it looked like the cottony thingy seemed to sorta wrinkled up. Good i thot, so i decided to snip off some ends of the branches, rid some leaves hopin that new shoots will grow since who noes, auxin accumulations at the ends will lead to retardation of shoot growth (ehem plant science geek talk). After a few waterings, eyyyy shoots really grew lah! more n more! ok happy happy.

eversince, i kinda observe the new shoots with new light green leaves, somehow feelin relieved every time cos there ain't any white cottony stuff growin there. then, a couple of days ago..i started seein my new leaves goin out of shape...more like they were bein nibbled on! URGHH!

Must be those damn caterpillars!! Urghhhhh!!! Caterpillars...reminded me of the periwinkle plants i had to look after in my 2nd year in SP. I had such a breeze lookin after those plants till caterpillars appear! HUGE GREEN ONES!!! YUCK!! And they were tough to remove, they cling to the bloody leaves! I dun wanna see them anymore, especially not on the lime plant!

So today after waterin the plants and seein more damaged leaves, i decided to take a closer look at the leaves to see if i can spot any of those squirmy crawlers! ooo ooo oooo...i saw not one, not two...but at least 6 of them in 3 different sizes! but they are way smaller compared to the ones i found on the peiwinkle plants...i think they r still baby ones...black, brown and furry lookin!! Eeewwwww~~~~

Grabbed a pair of scissors and snipped of the leaves that they were restin on, and throw them all downstairs..like they were on some magic carpet or somethin...eeewwwww!!! i felt guilty for awhile, cos they might suffer but oh well, some birds would thank me for the food man! hah!

It is only now I understand why almost everyday my late dad would look at his lime plant before he enters our home every time he returned from work or mosque. I remember hearin the jangling of his keys when he walked thru the corridor and i await in my room for him to open the door and peer at me when he enters the house, but i always had to wait quite some time before he did cos he would pause to look at his lime plant and pick on caterpillars or remove damaged leaves. My mum said she reminiscence his silhouette at the lime plant spot every now and then. My poor mum, it is still very hard for her to overcome his passing...every lil things reminds her of him.

I guess it's my turn now to be scrutinisin the lime plant and the others..well i may not be givin those plants tender lovin care, but I'll try to at least keep them alive. I used to some time get pissed with my dad when I see the soil of the plants get too dry. I mean, if u dun have time, why take such responsibilities of lookin after plants that have lives too? I guess I understand now that he is probably a lil too tired yet such creations of God, somehow takes one off the tiredness and stress the world brings sometime and juz brings a sense of calmness and relief.

So now, it's me against ants, cottony insects and Caterpillars!!

SNIP SNIP SNIP & SPROT SPROT!!

 

 

 

Friday 5 October 2007

Ode to the Faithful Departed

For the paths and roads that have been laid out and what u have been through

U probably think they are part of ur future for somethin big, somethin bold, somethin Grand

But what if it is all part of the worldly deception and all those comes to an abrupt crumblin end?

Would u fall for the deceit?

Or

Would u give up everythin n be ready for ur return back to nothingness?

How would u noe?

How would u noe when?

 

*Al-Fateha for our loved ones who have passed on before us*

 

 

 

 

Thursday 4 October 2007

The Move




Goodbye H.Close, Hello P.Valley!
but where's the dude residin now? In Camp!
Documentin the "historic" move, with the help of his "members".

Reservist sucks!

Monday 1 October 2007

Multiply's Iftar Affair: A First




Sakura Intl Restaurant was the choice for breaking fast together. 9 of us turned up and it was fun catchin up & watchin each other's silly antics! We were joined by Fauziah, who met us for the first time and got the boys curious with her flavoured mineral water! hehe! Pretty fun time we had, and food..ohh i realise i can't really hold in so much anymore lah! Thanx Hafi for organisin tis gatherin and for Jalan Raya, ehem...Cik Siti aka sitz, has volunteered to head the organisin! Wheehoo~~~

Before the iftar meet-up, the boys had a sudden craving for Mango & Banana Crumble so after stuffin ourselves with the sumptuous buffet spread, the boys and I headed down to PS Cafe...ahhh tea & desserts...what a way to wind down the evenin...