MARYAM FRIDA OSMOND

It’s been a while since I last update what’s happening in the life of Maryam Frida Osmond. Cheyyy… I did not even update my Honeymoon-ings! Ooppss! Fret not! Click here to see the videos!

Just last Friday we went to HDB Hub to select our BTO flat and paid Option Fee of S$2,000. Oh boy. That is the point of no return.

I can’t say we were exclusively “pressured” to get a flat, more like… a top-priority suggestion to apply since we were eligible for the MCP grant, NOT. We’ll get back to that in a while. Partly, too, we were psycho-ed to get a house for “investment” purposes, because few months back I had the notion that I’m going to live with my in-laws their whole life. 

We applied Fengshan Greenville BTO on the last day of its Sales Launch. Our queue number was shitty. We then received a letter saying we may or may not get to select a flat, depending on the availability of flat and ethnic quota. Turned out, we were able to. Oh, ok. I think it’s completely natural for first-timers like us to be a little clueless and “blur” about the whole buying a house deal. So we went ahead to the flat selection appointment unprepared and very, VERY late. *heeeeeee*

The Married Child Priority scheme grant (up to S$30k) is only applicable for resale flats, within 2 km of parent (my in-laws at Blk 411). We, however, got first-timer grant of S$35k. Alhamdulillah. So the MCP scheme was only a means of having better queue number. Up to this day I don’t see sense because we ended having very bad corot-corot Q-number for the remaining low-floor units.

There’s a blessing to that impromptu application. I was unemployed at that time, so 4 months from now on the second appointment we only have to pay Staggered Downpayment of 5% of total cost (about S$35k incl. law fees). Masya Allah. Just enough from the FT grant amount. Hehe. 

Now I want to get to the part where I keep on thinking about it day and night. It’s a house. I’m sure it’s something of a big deal, especially for those stay-at-home kind like me. I don’t mean to brag, nauzubillah, I’m being open here. We’re going to pay close to half a million (492k) for the next 30 years or more for that house (insya Allah)… which doesn’t even have a fantastic view! We’re at level 4, by the way. (I’ve lived at level 4 all my life! ergh~) Growing up, I’ve built the picture of my dream home; the kind that reside at level 10 and above. The kind with unobstructed view. The kind that is within walking distance to a mosque and away from a school (again, I’ve lived within few feet of a sec sch all my life). The kind where people won’t see us lazing around the house half naked (I like open air living, obviously. No closed windows please). ‘The kind’ will go on and on…

Recently I’m consumed with very commendable lectures by Mufti Ismail Musa Menk on the stories of the Prophets. I get a sense of high spiritually. I’ve been having deep thoughts about my religious beliefs and faith and my love for Allah, and where I’m heading towards. And it got me thinking that, subhanallah, Fengshan Greenville is just a temporary dwelling Allah swt lend us for the sake of having an independent shelter for my new growing family, so that we could prepare ourselves for a yet superbly indescribable house in Jannah Infinityville. Why do I fuss about what level/what view/what location so much? Astaghfirullah. May Allah swt grant us the love for ibadah (worshipping) more than realising dreams of the Dunya, insya Allah.

I end this post with beautiful views which Allah gave me the opportunity to witness it every day for 2 years. I miss this place.

This was my temporary home from 12/2011 - 2/2012 at Pantai Panorama. Another LOVELY, UNFORGETTABLE views (from the bedroom!) and experience (Dianaaa!!!).

This was the view from level 25 penthouse of the same condo.

This was a view from an acquaintance’s house at Ampang. Very dreamy~

Why do dramas always happen on Mondays? 3 weeks ago the spotlight was all Amy Cheong’s. This time around it was on me. Me. The wallflower, of all people. And trust me it wasn’t all for the good reason.

First of all, JOLLY GOOD NEWS, I’m engaged. Weeee~ (Alhamdulillah) Tons of gratitude to the Almighty, Allah subhanahu wata’ala. Without his granting my wishes, none of this would have happened.

Second of all, I would like to sincerely apologize once again to those I have hurt, indirectly or otherwise. Mak Ngah, Cik Noresah, I still LOVE you like I love my own mother and I promise none of these *doing that bitchy hand gesture* will ever happen again. ^_^V

So… *nervous laugh*, it all boils down to my graduation on December 15th. Without it, none of these marital fantasies will come true. I’m burning midnight oil now, it’s the last few days/3 weeks of constant torture before I get my (temporary) single lady freedom. *ehem! ehem!* =P

Last but not least, I would like to thank my one and only, my heart, my soul, Pak Aji A, for going through this with me. Thank you for the beautiful and meaningful proposal. =’) Thank your family for all the things they’ve done. I feel so blessed! *Hugs&kisses* (Oooppsss, belom bole eh?? XP)

Thank you Allah for all the love and joy you bestowed upon me. I know Thou love me and I love you so, so much too. MasyaAllah tabarakallah~ <3 

Sincerely,

Maryam

The stormy night is finally over. Although the rain was such a sleepgasmic inducer, deep down all I ever wanted were sun rays, blue skies, and cottony clouds.

And so a new cycle began. The sun seeped through my soft, silky curtains. I opened my eyes to the warmth that penetrated my every being. Slowly I’m getting there, to fully open my window to let all the happiness in.

xx Love is beautiful. Allahu Akbar xx

So yeah, I just got back from Laos last Saturday (and I was locked out of my house for 2 hours :P) You may see some photos I uploaded on Flickr. I suppose I am still in cloud 9 and (surreptitiously having a “writer’s block”) so I haven’t got the mood to blog about my experiences in Laos. I will. 

New semester has started and it’s the final of my whirlwind 4 years of Bachelor Degree. I am psyched at the same time very nervous and I don’t know what to expect. The final weeks of my previous semester I envisioned that I wasn’t coming back due to some financial problems but Allah subhanahu wata’ala knows best and I am deeply grateful for his kindness. 

I have yet to complete my semester fees and miscellaneous payments and register to Curtin as well. They are giving a time limit until the end of July before students have to pay a penalty of AUD$75 should the student failed to register within the registration period. 

I hope it’s not too late to wish my fellow brothers and sisters in Islam Salaam Ramadhan Kareem. May Allah forgive our sins and may we all get the best of both worlds for this month, insyaAllah.

Recall a typical office scene in Hollywood movies where the actors just walk so fast and keep on talking even faster? Well, today, my day was a little like that, less the talking. Body clock started at 7 am, gedebak-gedebuk-rainy-and-oh-so-lazy, but by 10am I was already in (my second home slash office) Lab 9 editing the “extra” storyboard mock-up. I’m not sure if I’ll get marks for that but I felt like my work was incomplete without a mock-up TVC.

By 1 pm I had the usual cravings for sssuperrr ssspicyyy Mee Tarik (RM3). That will be the awesome last bowl for this semester. For dessert, I cooled my burning throat down with vanilla stick ice cream.

Next, I was in Lab 5 tidying CAD 391 folders and deleting unnecessary stuffs (initial size was 11.2 GB!) before burning them into DVDs. Oh sharks! Misjudgment led to insufficient DVDs. Went up to artshop. Then back in Lab 5. Slide my way to Lab 9 to delete .NEF pictures. Then back to 5 to take the DVD I formatted but forgot to eject. Tried to burn the formatted DVD on Mac lab and oh! What do I know? the DVD went wrong so I went up to artshop to buy another DVD. Back in lab 9, took photos of my sketchbook. Then back in lab 5 to properly burn all the data. Burning was a success! No faulty DVD. No folders left out. Damn, I was on fire at my own organizing skills.

I had just enough time for Zuhur at 4.20pm. I gauged I could do Asar at home so I went off. The stupid Ten10 didn’t accept reload options anymore so I had to take a cab to Street Mall to do the final deed: Printing. I have always doubted my judgement when it comes to choosing a reliable printing shop. I want to go to the popular one because I know its ok good+ok affordable (although the service pace was UN-BELIE-VABLE!!!), but on the other hand I could actually use extra effort and go for something further at Domain area which could probably finish faster but might cost more. 

Choosing the latter, total 10x A3 raster white 230gsm paper printouts cost me RM60. Kinda satisfied with it because THAT WAS THE ONLY AMOUNT I HAD LEFT that time. Upon close to reaching St. Mall bustop I missed the Shut1 bus so I walked home. Changed. Went out again to find cheap A3 clear folder. Holy Mary… Cyber printshop charges RM22! I wasn’t stupid, and I had time, so I walked to Street Mall (again!) and got 10-pocket file for RM12! Yippy! 

And then, I treated myself to a dessert in Q-Thai. Didn’t have my phone with me so no pictures. :( It’s ‘D1’ on the menu and is was so nice! :”D With mini slices of jackfruit toppings! Love it! I love Thai everything! (except pork, ofc). So, then, thankfully I went home with U429 bus (they accept cash). Had shower, had the laundry on auto (i’m going back to my hometown tomorrow) and had juuuust enough time for Asar. Then did Maghrib, of course, and then back chop chop chop my CDs and CIRA labels, and spray mounts da da da da. Looked through my file like 20 times just to make sure it is something I want the Curtin people to see. Finished the laundry and then did Isyak.

Finally at 9pm I rewarded my diligence and hard work with Marhaba’s awesome liver sandwich, dipped in garlic sauce. That’s it. However tired and shitty I feel, if I end it with great tastebudgasmic food, I’ll be at my happiest. 

You know what else makes me happy these days? Watching Modern Family. It’s hilarious! I’m going to continue watching now. The next time I blog, it will probably be another phase of my (unpredictable) student life.

Wassalam.

Copyright Maryam Osmond 2012. 

Last Friday evening I just told off one Pakistani University student who threw Wings Cafe coffee cup right infront of him. He didn’t sneakily dropped it; he literally flunk it. Like mother f** slam dunk it like there’s a shit hole on the ground.

With hand gesture wide open indicating “WTH??!!”, I approached closer and asked in a very serious tone, “Why did you throw that here? The trash is just there!” I was pointing at the bin RIGHT BEHIND HIM and walked off to my bus. His friend said sorry, and as I turned, I dissed, “Pick it up!” Really. I’m not joking. 

Oh my. I was hoping other people would have seen it. Because it takes a lot of balls to tell a stranger that they’re doing something wrong. I am always like this; acting as if I’m the most disciplined person in Lim Kok Wing. But that’s the truth. I can’t stand incorrigible bastards kids from dirty, uncivilized third world under-developed countries making Cyber dirty. And the majority here think that Malays are the filthy bunch, when they didn’t fully open their retina lenses, scour the truth, and stomp a full stop right at it.

I am beginning to appreciate this country. It may not be as perfect as where I came from, but this country is REAL.