1 Syawal 1429

It is actually the 8th of Syawal. Moi is back at work after a lo-o-ong raya break (at least it felt like it). Feeling moody and cranky today, the flu is setting in I think..been reading the sibling's postings and felt like a new post is called for. As per maktam's and maksu's postings, raya in my household is all about food, drink and be merry. And fireworks on the takbir night (where we do not have any tarawikh to perform). We have more ammo than we usually do the last two years. No 'KLCC" type extravaganza, but fun all the same. No police this year peeps, so that's an improvement! Were waiting for hadi the bilal to finish his rounds of takbir so we started quite late. The encore was almost midnight, I think.

This is the first year of raya without my late mother-in-law for my hubby. After much discussion, it is decided that he would spend two days of ramadhan and two days of syawal at Talang. He was accompanied by Afiq and Achap so Anchaq and I will spend raya in Sungai Ramal Dalam. Maybe this week Anchaq and I will go back to Talang pulak. Tukor shift gitu. More importantly, tengok my dearest father-in-law and everybody back at Talang.

Pagi Syawal, the usual drill. Masjid Hasanah is THE place to go. Baba went to pray somewhere else, Desa Surada and ended up jadi Imam (hmmm?). Back at home after prayers, start balik with the food. This year is a tad different. No nasi2, it's laksa time..scrumptious as usual maktam...hurrah!! the gateau du jour is sponsored by mak ngah. Secret Recipe's of course - chocolate strawberry (pls refer to maktam's blog for pix) - yes, start drooling!! And then off to umah Paman sebelah makan soto lak..kak mal and kak ipah's family on tow. I think we are seeing a pattern here people! Pastu g SA umah bangmim tgk my aunty. She looked well. Another round of assault on the ketupat-rendang. yum.

The next day, for lack of nothing better to do, I just casually cook for the household. Nothing fancy (really maktam! especially if it comes out of the packet)..just leftover urat yang we braised for hours and turn it into 'gulai ceghoi'. No pix of it which is sad, but it sure taste nice!! My hubby said so!! Oh speaking of which, die balik on the eve of the second raya to pick us up at my mom's. Lepas makan the biryani-wannabe, we head home. Anchaq tinggal umah ambah. Malam tu, Kema lak sampai dari KK, dengan Yong and hubby. All in all, that is Syawal this year. A time for family. It has been been a subtle one for me, but it did not lose any of the excitement. So, here's wishing everybody "alfun mubarrak, kullu 'am wa antum bikhair" from anchaq dan co ! I miss Ramadhan though..