Stories

“Stories have changed, my dear boy,” the man in the grey suit says, his voice almost imperceptibly sad. “There are no more battles between good and evil, no monsters to slay, no maidens in need of rescue. Most maidens are perfectly capable of rescuing themselves in my experience, at least the ones worth something, in any case. There are no longer simple tales with quests and beasts and happy endings. The quests lack clarity of goal or path. The beasts take different forms and are difficult to recognize for what they are. And there are never really endings, happy or otherwise. Things keep overlapping and blur, your story is part of your sister’s story is part of many other stories, and there in no telling where any of them may lead. Good and evil are a great deal more complex than a princess and a dragon, or a wolf and a scarlet-clad little girl. And is not the dragon the hero of his own story? Is not the wolf simply acting as a wolf should act? Though perhaps it is a singular wolf who goes to such lengths as to dress as a grandmother to toy with its prey.” 

--

“Someone needs to tell those tales. When the battles are fought and won and lost, when the pirates find their treasures and the dragons eat their foes for breakfast with a nice cup of Lapsang souchong, someone needs to tell their bits of overlapping narrative. There's magic in that. It's in the listener, and for each and every ear it will be different, and it will affect them in ways they can never predict. From the mundane to the profound. You may tell a tale that takes up residence in someone's soul, becomes their blood and self and purpose. That tale will move them and drive them and who knows what they might do because of it, because of your words. That is your role, your gift. Your sister may be able to see the future, but you yourself can shape it, boy. Do not forget that... there are many kinds of magic, after all.”

 ERIN MORGENSTERN, The Night Circus.

 “I lived in books more than I lived anywhere else.” 

--

“Books were safer than other people anyway.”  

--

“I liked myths. They weren't adult stories and they weren't children's stories. They were better than that. They just were.” 

NEIL GAIMAN, The Ocean at the End of the Lane

“Stories are important...They can be more important than anything. If they carry the truth.”  

--

“Stories don't always have happy endings."

This stopped him. Because they didn't, did they? That's one thing the monster had definitely taught him. Stories were wild, wild animals and went off in directions you couldn't expect.” 

--

“Stories are the wildest things of all. Stories chase and bite and hunt.” 

PATRICK NESS, A Monster Calls

 

Secrets

“Secrets have power. And that power diminishes when they are shared, so they are best kept and kept well. Sharing secrets, real secrets, important ones, with even one other person, will change them. Writing them down is worse, because who can tell how many eyes might see them inscribed on paper, no matter how careful you might be with it. So it's really best to keep your secrets when you have them, for their own good, as well as yours.”

-ERIN MORGENSTERN,  The Night Circus

The Grey Area

“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”
--

“Your mind will believe comforting lies while also knowing the painful truths that make those lies necessary. And your mind will punish you for believing both.” 
--

“Many things that are true feel like a cheat. Kingdoms get the princes they deserve, farmers' daughters die for no reason, and sometimes witches merit saving. Quite often, actually. You'd be surprised.”

-PATRICK NESS, A Monster Calls

CRYING

There's just something great about a heartbreaking movie.
It makes you feel alive.
And goodness, the amount of crying.
It's quite therapeutic actually.
Here are my go-to cry-fest movies:

What Maisie Knew

The Deep Blue Sea

Becoming Jane

Shakespeare In Love

Go watch it, and cry your heart out.
It feels good.

Completed

At the beginning of the new year, I set out on a Goodreads Challenge.
To read 22 books in 2013.

Last year, 2012, I had a goal of 10 books.
to read 10 books in 2012.
10.
I only managed 9.

It's so easy to stop reading.
Hence, I took up this challenge.
Read 22 books in 2013.
My children will emulate what I do.
If I want them to read, I have to read.
They have to see me reading, and loving it.
I do so love reading.

I may not always have time to read.
That's why it may take me weeks or maybe months to finish a 300+ page book.
I don't care. It's not a race.
As long as I get to read.

And today, Alhamdulillah, I finished my 22nd book of 2013.

The 22 books read in 2013

Time and Relative Dimension in Space

I picked up the coinbox in the picture and showed it to my eldest. I asked, "Faris, what is this?"

Proudly, he yelled out, "It's the TARDIS".

This is what I call "fandom parenting".

:)

Abe and Henry

Henry

“Judge us not equally, Abraham. We may all deserve hell, but some of us deserve it sooner than others” 

-

“Without death,' he answered, 'life is meaningless. It is a story that can never be told. A song that can never be sung. For how would one finish it?”

-

“Living men are bound by time... Thus, their lives have an urgency. This gives them ambition. Makes them choose those things that are most important, cling more tightly to that which they hold dear. Their lives have seasons, and rites of passage, and consequences. And ultimately, an end. But what of a life with no urgency? What then of ambition? What then of love?” 

Abraham

“There are but two types of men who desire war: those who haven’t the slightest intention of fighting it themselves, and those who haven’t the slightest idea what it is.”

-

“The true roll in determining to embrace or reject anything is not whether it have any evil in it but whether it have more of evil than of good. There are few things wholly evil or wholly good.”

-

“But I am happy. And happiness, I have decided, is a noble ambition.”

 -SETH GRAHAME-SMITH, Abraham Lincoln; Vampire Hunter

Giant Wisdom

“Do not forget," the BFG said, "that human beans are disappearing everywhere all the time even without the giants is guzzling them up. Human beans is killing each other much quicker than giants is doing it."

"But they don't eat each other," Sophie said.

“Giants isn't eating each other either, the BFG said. Nor is giants killing each other. Giants is not very lovely, but they is not killing each other. Nor is crockadowndillies killing other crockadowndillies. Nor is pussy-cats killing pussy-cats.

'They kill mice,' Sophie said.

'Ah, but they is not killing their own kind,' the BFG said. 'Human beans is the only animals that is killing their own kind.'

'Don't poisonous snakes kill each other?' Sophie asked. She was searching desperately for another creature that behaved as badly as the human.

'Even poisnowse snakes is never killing each other,' the BFG said. 'Nor is the most fearsome creatures like tigers and rhinostossterisses. None of them is ever killing their own kind. Has you ever thought about that?'

Sophie kept silent.

'I is not understanding human beans at all,' the BFG said.' You is a human bean and you is saying it is grizzling and horrigust for giants to be eating human beans. Right or left?'

'Right,' Sophie said.

'But human beans is squishing each other all the time,' the BFG said. 'They is shootling guns and going up in
aerioplanes to drop their bombs on each other's heads every week. Human beans is always killing other human beans.'

He was right. Of course he was right and Sophie knew it. She was beginning to wonder whether humans were actually any better than giants. 'Even so,' she said, defending her own race, I' think it's rotten that those foul giants should go off every night to eat humans. Humans have never done them any harm.'

'That is what the little piggy-wig is saying every day,' the BFG answered. 'He is saying, "I has never done any harm to the human bean so why should he be eating me?'"

'Oh dear,' Sophie said.

'The human beans is making rules to suit themselves,' the BFG went on. 'But the rules they is making do not suit the little piggy-wiggies. Am I right or left?'

'Right,' Sophie said.

'Giants is also making rules. Their rules is not suiting the human beans. Everybody is making his own rules to suit himself.”

- ROALD DAHL, The BFG

Imagination

Things Faris said:

1) *while watching a pirate-themed episode of a cartoon*

"Arrrr... I'm Captain Faris"

2) *while Ayahanda is doing push-ups*

"That's it, Ayahanda. Do your morning exercise"

3)  *whenever we accidentally knocked something*

"Oh no, you ruined my [insert name of thing that fell over/broke apart ]"

4)  *while playing with his toys or holding a random book, he likes to make up his own stories*

"Once upon a time, there was a monster called... [trails off]"

5) *while playing with his farm animals Lego Duplo*

"Here, horse. Eat the apples. Ummm, delicious."

Imagination.
The best learning tool.

Playlist

Songs help me unwind once my sons have gone to bed.
And drown myself in the lyrics.
And some nights when I am not too tired, I get crazy, dancing in the dark.
Stress melts away.
It's quite rejuvenating.

Songs that I love and I'd recommend:

Young The Giant - "12 Fingers"
Tim McGraw - "Highway Don't Care"
The Script - "If You Ever Come Back"
Alt-J - "Fitzpleasure"
Biffy Clyro - "Mountains"
The Strokes - "Under Cover of Darkness"
Les Mis OST - "In My Life/ A Heart Full of Love"
Olly Murs - "Cry Your Heart Out"
Zach Sobiech - "Clouds"
Max Milner - "Sex Sheets"
Artist Vs Poet - "Different People" (feat. Devyn Deloera)
Doctor Who OST - "I Am The Doctor"
Ian Axel - "This Is The New Year"
Passenger - "Month of Sundays"
John Mayer - "Half of My Heart"
Ed Sheeran - "Lego House"
Bastille - "Flaws"
Paramore - "My Heart"
Ron Pope - "A Drop In The Ocean"
The Black Keys - "Run Right Back"
Morning Parade - "Speechless"

Enjoy.

Wonderful Days

12th May 2013

Internationally, Sunday was Mother's Day.
My family has never been one that celebrates anyting other than Eid and birthdays.
So, we don't do anything different for this Mother's Day.

I did, however, bake with Faris.
We made a blueberry butter cake.

I measured the ingredients.
Set up the mixer,
and he did the rest by himself.
Then we put it in the oven.

It was delicious.
Messy kitchen, but a happy one.
He was so proud of his cake.

14th May 2013

Our darling firstborn son turned four.
He is four years old.
We are so blessed, Alhamdulillah.

Bonda and Ayahanda doakan Faris jadi anak yg soleh.
Iman yg kukuh.
May Allah shower you with His hidayah and that you may never be tempted to stray from the righteous path..

Precious, Priceless Moments #51 - #56

#51
I was in the kitchen, preparing lunch.
Then I heard laughter. Both my boys.
So I decided to go check it out.
I found;
Faris was playing peekaboo with Faruq, who was in his playpen.
The boys' laughter- it's the most beautiful sound I've ever heard.

#52
Being the big brother, Faris reprimands Faruq - a lot!
"No, Faruq. You can't bite the iPad."
"No, Faruq. That's Bonda's phone."
"No, Faruq!!!"

#53
Innocently leaving the bedroom when CLEARLY it's his naptime, Faris casually let's me know,
"I'll be right back, Bonda".

#54
I told Faris to stop doing what he was doing, but he kept doing it anyway, so I raised my voice,
to which he replied,
"You've got to help me, I don't know."
So adorable, sampai terus tak jadi marah.

#55
Faris is still always the first one by Faruq's side when he cries.
"Faruq, are you ok? What's the matter?"

#56
My sons love food. And love to eat.
At the sight of food,
"Oooh, I love hot dogs", said Faris.

Sabar. Enjoy.

Alhamdulillah, terima berita ramai kenalan tengah berbadan dua.
Semua teruja. Rasa bahagia.

And then there's their expected impatience to meet this new addition of their growing family.

To this, my friends, I say;
Sabar.
Patience.

Enjoy the pregnancy.
Cherish every stretching inch. Every heartbeat scanned.
Every kick.
Persevere through the morning sickness.
The nausea. The acid reflux, heart burns, back aches.
From my experience, it will all be worth it.

And when the child is born, sabar.
Patience.
You have been preparing for your world to change, but your baby was "yanked" out of his "home" and into an unfamiliar world.
It is understandable that he wants to be held more than he wants to be in a lonely cot.
He is so used to hearing your heartbeat to lull him to sleep, so he wants to be in your arms more, closer to you - your smell, the rhythm of your heart.

Let him grow at his own pace.
Some babies move faster than others.
Others roll over earlier than some.
And some even walk before they crawl.
Cherish every tantrum. Every sleepless night.
Every time you need to change due to spit ups.
Every time they want to be held instead of being in the cot by their lonesome.
Persevere through their "terrible twos".
Their ways of testing and pushing your buttons.

Sabar. Cherish.

All too soon, they'll grow up.
And you cannot turn back time.
And you may have missed something so spectacular in their progress.
Document everything, although not necessarily share everything on Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Have albums upon albums of photos. Of scrapbooks.

Sabar. Cherish.

Oh So Pretty

You see, when you are very pretty, people tend to remark on your looks. They smile at you more easily. They are more permissive of your faults. Soon, you come to believe that your prettiness matters, and that you are better because you are pretty, and that all it takes to get through life is batting of your eyelashes and a twisting of your hair around your little finger, and that you can scream and pout and shout and tease because everyone will still like you anyway because you are so unbelievably pretty. This is what many very pretty people think.

Beware, then, for this is how monsters are made.

ADAM GIDWITZ, In A Glass Grimmly.

Precious, Priceless Moment #47 - #50

#47
We drove past a construction site. Faris saw those huge digging machines.
"Look, it's an excavator".
I can tell you now that both Husband and I had our jaws on the ground.
Proud.

#48
Faris: "X is for Xiphias"

I honestly didn't know what Xiphias was and had to google it.
Apparently, it's the higher classification or the scientific name for Swordfish.
Mindblown.
Anybody who tells you iPad is not good for your kids aren't doing it right.

#49
Me: "Faris, where's your letter B? It's not here."
Faris: "Bonda, no need to panic."

*Amboih eh budak ni. :)*

#50
Bonda suapkan Faruq makan.
Words of encouragement from Faris:
"Nam nam nummy Faruq. One more. *Faruq swallows* Good job. You finished."

Aah, our boys.
Alhamdulillah, masha Allah.

Come Along, Pond...

To keep sane, I allocate a little bit of time for reading and my tv shows.
Not that my children drive me crazy. No. Far from it.
Sometimes I just feel a little worn out. Exhausted.

So, to unwind, I escape in my books.
And my tv shows.

I've been drowning myself in Doctor Who (Series 5).
The show is a perfect blend of everything.

It makes you feel, it makes you think, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry.
Oh, by God, does it make you cry.

If I were to pick an episode that sums up the epicness of the elements in the show,
it'd have to be 5.02 "The Beast Below"

Time travel. Keeps me sane.

Stars

"Some war," he said dismissively. "What am I at war with? My cancer. And what is my cancer? My cancer is me. The tumors are made of me. They're made of me as surely as my brain and my heart are made of me. It is a civil war, Hazel Grace, with a predetermined winner."

- Augustus Waters

"Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin."

-Doughy, bald, Dutch cab driver.

JOHN GREEN, The Fault In Our Stars.

By far, one of the best books I've read. The most honest and intelligent, heartbreaking and hilarious book I've read. And definitely, one of my favourites to date.

FRINGE

Farewell.

And thank you.

Two weeks...

"That makes two weeks, she would later write in the basement.

Two weeks to change the world, and fourteen days to ruin it."

MARKUS ZUSAK, The Book Thief

Precious, Priceless Moments #044 - #046

#044
Faris: *sings loudly*
Bonda: "Faris, quiet voice, please. Faruq is asleep."
Faris: *whispers* "Oh. Yes. Sorry."

#045
Our eldest has such good manners, MashaAllah.
Bonda: "Faris, would you like some chocolate?"
Faris: "No, thank you."
Bonda: "How about, jelly?"
Faris: "Jelly? Yes, please."

#046
Faruq is crying.
Faris: "Look, Faruq's sad."
*does a jig that makes Faruq laugh*
"Look. Faruq's happy." *claps*

Another

Alhamdulillah.
Another year.
So blessed to have seen 27 years, praying for more in shaa Allah.

I took the Goodreads challenge for 2013.
To read 15 books.
I failed my 2012 challenge.
Pledged to read 10 books, only managed 9.
The number pledged is low because I'm being realistic.
I have a newborn and a 3 year old.
I'd be lucky to get to read at all.

And it's Colin Morgan's birthday.
Every new year should always be greeted by this gorgeous face.

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