Marhaban! Ya Ramadhan, marhaban!

May I wish all my Muslim readers a blessed, prayerful and holy Ramadhan.



Come, come, whoever you are.

Wonderer, worshipper, lover of leaving.

It doesn't matter.

Ours is not a caravan of despair.

Come, even if you have broken your vow

a thousand times.

Come, yet again, come, come.


Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi
13th century Sufi poet

Beauty Tips by Nikki

Hi everyone!

I would like to thank Basdavdan for setting up Nikki Fanforum. It really is very sweet of you :) Also to anishayati, barry, bazz, faizul, flojoe2020, gksutra, lumix, lyana, Maharajah, nderian, noi, popfreak, ruffey, scrocth, shanelaudition, supbuaya and theosofie, thanks so much for supporting the forum in its early stages. (www.nikkipalikat.proboards58.com)

Reading the chatter about my 2nd album gets me all excited! I can't wait for everyone to hear what I've been working on. I can't say for sure that everyone will love it, because it certainly does sound different from what you hear in the local stations today. Not to mention the operatic-melismatic-asthmatic runs that I asked to incorporate into certain songs... Sometimes I just ask for it, don't I? But I'll try my best to pull 'em off! As my mother always said, practice makes perfect :D

Anyway....

Upon Vernon's insistence, I reluctantly agreed to share some of my most treasured beauty secrets with his loyal readers. Not because I am lokek ilmu but because if Ning reads this she might laugh scoffingly at my offerings yang tak seberapa. Well, here goes anyway.


#1. STOP using cotton pads to apply toner.



It's what I call dua kali kerja. And who benefits from the goodness of toner most? The cotton pad. If you take my advice, you will find that your not-so-cheap bottle of toner lasts for much longer, and you won't need to buy cotton pads anymore. So use those lovely (clean) fingers to tone your facial skin. The skin on your fingers is waterproof so all the toner will go to your face. And you can use the money you saved from toner and cotton pads to buy other things. Like a new CD :)


#2. If you must, pinch it before bedtime.



I highly advise against pinching pimples. But if you are gatal tangan, and your fingers can't help but wander back every 2 minutes to that volcanic bump on your face, keep your hands occupied until bedtime. Wash your face carefully and pat it dry. Then, proceed to gently coax the goods out. Good luck. Sometimes a stubborn zit may not yield its properties and you will endure a sleepless night thinking about ways to get it out. But, if you are skillful, then you may continue your individual pre-bedtime beauty regime and wake up the next morning with just a tiny flat red dot where the zit once was. Do not worry, for in a few days, it will turn brown and flaky and may be flicked off with ease. I guess this is because skin does its auto- repair & recover when the body shuts down to sleep.

Okay, these are some beauty tips I have to share for now and maybe they can help you as they have helped me. Let me know if you want more tips!

Nikki
nikkipalikat.blogspot.com

MERCY Malaysia

Dear Gentle Reader,

A hour ago, Ning sang for MERCY Malaysia. If you haven't heard of MERCY Malaysia, SHAME ON YOU. Go to this link now and sekolahkan diri anda.

www.mercy.org.my

MERCY Malaysia held a very private dinner attended by only a handful of people. But oh what a handful. Only Chairmen and CEOs of leading corporate giants and multi-nationals were present. The dinner was to honour present and potential donors.





The night was graced by the Patron of MERCY Malaysia, His Royal Highness Paduka Seri Sultan of Perak Darul Ridzuan, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah and his consort Her Royal Highness The Raja Permaisuri of Perak, Tuanku Bainun Binti Mohd. Ali.



After the royal performance, Ning was presented to His Royal Highness by MERCY Malaysia President Datuk Dr Jemilah Mahmood. Then His Royal Highness commanded to meet Omar, who was hiding behind the stage with me. When commanded, one does not refuse. So Omar respectfully approached His Royal Highness and presented himself.



Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Muda Perak Darul Ridzuan, Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Ibni Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin the Crown Prince of Perak and his consort Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Raja Puan Besar Perak, Tuanku Zara Salim Davidson also received Ning and Omar.



So what exactly is MERCY Malaysia? MERCY Malaysia is a non-profit organization focusing on providing medical relief and sustainable health related development for vulnerable communities. In short, they go to war torn countries and disaster zones to offer rapid medical response for the assistance of communities affected by these disasters. Now that's a very good cause. And yes, Ning sang pro bono.

Talking about medical relief and sustainable health, I have decided to wear an amethyst close to my heart. If you're a believer in the healing power of crystals, then you would know that amethyst imparts peace and tranquility and helps smooth out any negative feelings.

“Amethyst brings energies of peace, balance, courage and inner strength. Amethyst stones can also have a calming effect. Only by letting go of all that was believed to be real can the ultimate reality be known. As the mind surrenders and thoughts subside, glimmers and hints of a greater knowing enter into the consciousness.”

Great stuff!



Here's a close up of my 25 carat emerald cut amethyst surrounded by 35 pieces of 3 pointer brilliant cut diamonds in a white gold pendant setting. Cantik tak?



Hopefully I'll be a peaceful and tranquil person WITHOUT the Xanax.

Question: Manager gila glamor? Answer: Gila tak glamor?

Dear Gentle Reader,

An anonymous insect left a comment at my previous posting, calling me 'manager gila glamor'. I would like to respectfully correct the misnomer. I am not a manager gila glamor.

Please. Get it right.

I am a manager PALING gila glamor and SUNGGUH gila kuasa yang MELETOPS dan VASS VAVAVOOM. That is my correct title. Thank you very much.

Here is pictorial evidence to prove that my title is not just hot air. I was at TV3 yesterday afternoon to pre-record an interview.

Tengah berbedak. Cantik? Gila tak cantik?



Tengah bergila kuasa depan kamera. Ko ado?

For what programme? Nanti closer the date of broadcast I bagitau ok. For now, sila jeleskan diri anda dan speku je lah.

Whilst I was there, I bumped into my dear friend Zahid and his dear friend Nita. They had just finished singing a duet together for the Muzik Muzik Showcase.



And talking about the Muzik Muzik Showcase, sharing the make-up room with me were hosts Cheryl and Faizal.

Cheryl: Vern! Budak seorang ni top 3!

Me: Top 3 apa? Budak mana?

Cheryl: Ada lah! Top 3 untuk Carta Muzik Muzik ler!

Me: Hah??? Do you mean who I think you mean?

Faizal: Karang ko dengar kita announce. Until then, rahsia kerajaan!

Terus aku buka handphone aku dan call seorang kawan aku di tingkat 2.

Me: Nyah! Betul ke korang announce top 3 nanti masa showcase?

Kawan: Yup.

Me: Should I be happy?

Kawan: Telan your Xanax now! Jangan terlalu excited!

Dengan pantasnya aku terus sms orang orang kuat Nubies. 'Bukak TV3 dalam 15 minit dan tengok Muzik Muzik Showcase! Ada berita baik!'

Then I went for my interview at Studio C. After half an hour and two takes, I rushed outside to the Muzk Muzik Showcase which was being broadcasted live from Sri Pentas Outdoor stage. Hattan was already singing.



I missed the announcement. Nevermind.

Top 3! Nubhan's Ada Untukmu, which was only nominated last week, has debuted and made it to the top 3! THANK YOU NUBIES AND ALL MY GENTLE READERS WHO VOTED!

But it isn't over yet. The full Carta Muzik Muzik will be announced next Tuesday, 2nd September at 2pm on www.tv3.com.my. Undian tutup on the same day at mid-day, 12 noon. So keep on voting till Tuesday 2nd September till 12pm. Anything can happen in 5 days. So let's not stop voting and UP lagik our efforts! Let's debut Ada Untukmu at No.1 when the official results are announced! Type MM A385 and send to 33399 again!

Top 3. Which position is Ada Untukmu in the top 3 at time of announcement tadi? No one wanted to go on record to tell me officially but maybe this pic has the clue...

PEACE!

Later in the evening, Audi Mok called me and invited me out for dinner. I wasn't really in the mood (as Xanax puts you in a mellow mood and all you want to do is cacoon yourself) but since I hadn't seen Audi in like five million years, I relented.

We went to Dlish at Mid Valley. Audi ordered the Vietnamese Beef Noodles and a Chocolate Cupcake dripping with melted chocolate. Jahat dan sungguh kejam!!!

Audi: Sooo delicious! Sooo nice! Ahhhhhh!

Me: Sooo artery clogging. Arrrggghhh!

I was being a good boy and ordered green tea and the very healthy and oil free Smoked Salmon Salad with Vietnamese Dressing (also oil free). Fresh, sweet and sour. Sejak bila Mr. Manager makan rabbit food? Sejak semalam. Dah insaf dan bertaubat katanya.



It wasn't so bad. Quite tasty actually. And I want to live forever. So I had better get used to rabbit food.



And I am proud to announce, gentle reader, that I only smoked five sticks of ciggies today! And swallowed 2000mg of Omega 3 and 2000mg of vitamin C. I've also quit coffee. Green tea is IN.

Manager gila glamor? Gila tak glamor?

Pesanan Penaja Khas Buat Nubies Sedunia.

Last week Friday lagu Ada Untukmu masuk carta di tangga No. 17. Then jatuh to No. 19 on Monday. Genting!

Today, kerana usaha, kegigihan dan pengorbanan NUBIES, Ada Untukmu terus melonjak dari No. 19 ke TOP 3!!!

Lebih banyak undi diperlukan lagi untuk mendapat posisi yang TERUNGGUL bila carta rasmi dan penuh Muzik Muzik diumumkan Selasa (Tuesday 2 September) minggu depan pada jam 2 petang di tv3.com.my. Cuma ada 5 hari lagi untuk bertungkus lumus dan berhempas pulas untuk membuat satu impak yang berkesan melalui menjuarakan Ada Untukmu di Muzik Muzik. First impression is so important and we MUST achieve this!

Undian tutup Selasa minggu depan (Tuesday 2 September) jam 12 tengahari. Dua jam kemudian, pengumuman carta penuh akan diumumkan di website tv3.

Overseas Nubies. Email me at mrmanagermail@yahoo.com for Juara Lagu Fund bank account details to send your contribution. Australia, Brunei, New Zealand, Singapore and UK have so far pledged and banked in. The rest of the world? Cepat! 3 working days to go! (Kalau lambat, tak pe, kita carry forward to next week's voting.)

Nubies Sedunia. Jom JUARAKAN ADA UNTUKMU!!!

Undi! Undi! Undi! Matlamat kita untuk menjuarakan Ada Untukmu hampir tercapai! UNDI!!!

Taip MM A385 dan hantar ke 33399 sekarang jugak!

Glamour Raya!

Dear Gentle Reader,

This week is the last week most newspapers and magazines shoot their Raya bumper issues. It is a very, very hectic and busy time for them.

Now contrary to popular belief, I am a very nice and considerate manager, despite having closed down my blog for three days to 'encourage' you to vote MM A385 and send to 33399.

If you had joined the campaign and voted, a very big hug and THANK YOU for voting, gentle reader. You are dearly loved by me too and I am glad you saw the humour in it and went along with the fun.

To those who said I stooped low, and who grumbled and didn't see through the humour of it all, my gentle advice is - lighten up, sweetie. Don't take things too seriously. This is just a blog, not the end of the world. I like playing pranks once in a while. So play along.

As expected, the moment I allowed anonymous comments, the flood gates opened and the no-balls pengecuts whose pastime is it to baling batu sorok tangan anonymous brigade came out in full force to leave nasty anonymous comments - I wonder why you bother to read this blog if you hate me so much?

And to the odd reader or two who said they lost respect for me and threatened/decided to stop reading this blog, your infantile immaturity and selfish self-centred small-mindedness prompt me to offer you only three short words: ADA AKU KESAH?

Back to my being nice and considerate.

It is the responsibility of a manager to always try his best to make the media's job easier. And in this vein, we arranged for a Raya edition media photography last Monday. Like we did last year and the year before that. Being the last week for them to shoot, we made sure that the photographers present had a chance each to capture as many moments as they wanted in whatever positions and angles they desired and with the most gorgeous outfits modeled that I could lay my hands on. With the artistry of make-up artists Nurul Shukor, Ahmad and Nabil on full display.

Nubhan: Bang. Nubhan selalu dengar abang gunakan perkataan itu. 'Gorgeous' tu maksudnya apa sebenarnya?

Me: Hmmm. Jap. *how do I put this simply?* Kecantikan yang sungguh menakjubkan. Lebih kurang macam tu lah. More to lebih kot.

Nubhan: Sangat sangat sangat cantik?

Me: Yes.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Last year we shot at an orchard (dusun) and had the bakar lemang and anyam ketupat themes. This year we decided to do a loose take on the P. Ramlee theme. Rumah lama, furniture lama, radio lama, etc etc. Take a look.

8.30am. Pakai bedak. 2 hours. That's a lot of bedak.



10.30am. Casual solo shots.





11.30am. Casual duet shots.



Noon. Berjimba jimba di hutan rimba shots. Director in white looks on. Yes, it takes roughly about seven people to photograph one diva.



The pose may look easy. You try it and see if you don't cry. Fifteen years of training.



12.30pm. Kalau bosan tunggu giliran, main dengan haiwan.



2pm. Nurul Shukor shows Nubhan how to ikat bunga.



2.30pm. Million dollar smiles, everyone!



3pm. Interview time. A very comfortable Nubhan with journalist Shahril from Media Hiburan.



3pm. Touch up, tukar wig and tukar baju. Ahmad does Nikki while Nurul does Yanie.



4pm. White is in.



4pm. Majalah Perempuan editor Zakiah interviews Nikki.



4PM. Harian Metro, Bi-Pop, and Kosmo! interview Ning.
Sanggul siput is in.



5pm. Lima pasang baju. Dah macam Raya!



5.30pm. Maaf, tak lama lagi kita wrap shoot.



6pm. Last set.



6.30pm. Celebrated novelist Ahadiat Akashah (Budak Setan series), the owner of the beautiful home, autographs copies of his novels for journalists Faizal, Feride and Yanie.



7pm. Saving the best for last. Journalist Yanie from Harian Metro and journalist Feride from Kosmo! have a field day with Yanie.

Wartawan : Ada gosip mengatakan yang Ning telah menyingkir Yanie. Betul ke?

Yanie: Gosip semata, kak. Siapalah Yanie nak menutup mulut orang? Yanie redha dan tabah dengan apa jua yang dikatakan. Kalau benar Yanie telah disingkir, mustahil Yanie akan ada di sini sekarang.

Wartawan : Yanie menghilang ke mana selama ini?

Yanie: Yanie tidak menghilang ke mana mana. Hahaha! Yanie berulang alik di antara KL dan KK kerana Yanie sedang membuka bisnes di Sabah. Lagipun, Kak Ning dan Abang Vernon murah hati untuk membenarkan Yanie bercuti berpanjangan untuk menikmati pengalaman baru sejak bergelar isteri. Kita semua sedia maklum industri muzik sekarang sedang mengalami krisis. Yanie harus mencari jalan lain untuk mencari makan selain dari membuat show. Membuka bisnes makanan adalah satu cara untuk Yanie berdikari.

Wartawan: Adakah ini bermaksud Yanie tidak akan terlibat dalam bidang seni lagi?

Yanie: Oh sama sekali tidak. Mengikut perancangan syarikat rakaman AUR, Yanie akan keluarkan album sulung Yanie tahun depan. Setakat ini, semua lagu sudah siap dirakam melainkan satu saja yang perlu dinyanyi balik sebab arrangementnya tukar. Hanya menunggu masa yang tepat untuk dilancarkan.

There you have it. From Yanie's own mouth. I am so proud of my Yanie.

Of course, we took tons of pictures but I'm not showing all of them. You'll have to buy the Raya bumper issues of Bi-Pop (Berita Harian), Harian Metro, Kosmo!, Media Hiburan and Perempuan if you want to see the marvellous poses, dresses, and pull-out posters of all of my four artistes.

Thank you to Jovian (for five ladies' sets of Koleksi Candy Raya by Jovian Mandagie) and Abang Lat (for five sets of baju melayu lelaki from Lat's Collection). Thank you too to Ahadiat for sharing your lovely home with us for a day.

So, gentle reader, the moral of the story is simple: looking good is hard work and let it never be said that being an artiste is all glamourous. Putting on that glamour alone takes hours, and keeping that glamour from disintegrating in the hot sun takes even more!

Panic attack!

Dear Gentle Reader,

This has to stop. This really has to stop! I'm fed up with walking around with this nagging feeling that my next panic attack is just around the corner. Ever since that scare when I drove myself to IJN three weeks ago, I have been getting recurrent episodes. Milder, perhaps, but episodes of panic attacks all the same. Once at Nubhan's kenduri, and once whilst driving back from Batu Caves on Jalan Kuching (mild but just as scary) a week ago.

And I just got one a few hours ago whilst driving to Mid Valley, where it crested and went full-blown when I sat down to chat with some friends at the Food Junction. It got really bad this time and I felt like I was on the verge of collapsing.

What is a panic attack? Read this:

Many who suffer panic attacks state they are the most frightening experiences of their lives. Sufferers of panic attacks report a fear or sense of dying, "going crazy", or experiencing a heart attack or "flashing vision", feeling faint or nauseous, or losing control of themselves. These feelings may provoke a strong urge to escape or flee the place where the attack began (a consequence of the sympathetic "fight or flight" response).



A panic attack is a response of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). The most common symptoms may include trembling, dyspnea (shortness of breath), heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), hot flashes, cold flashes, burning sensations (particularly in the facial or neck area), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), sensations of choking or smothering or derealization, the feeling that nothing is real. These physical symptoms are interpreted with alarm in people prone to panic attacks. This results in increased anxiety, and forms a positive feedback loop.

Often when shortness of breath and chest pain are the predominant symptoms the sufferer incorrectly appraises this as a sign or symptom of a heart attack. This results in the person experiencing a panic attack to seek treatment in an emergency room.

Source: wikipedia.org/panic_attack

And believe me, every time you get a panic attack, it scares the shit out of you. Literally. The desire to go to the toilet is increased.

Thankfully, my friends quickly went in search of a clinic, found one, and brought me there immediately. And get this - whilst walking to the clinic, I was on the phone chatting with another friend. She was gushing away at full throttle about an important issue and I was giving her one word answers. She had no idea that I was in full panic mode. I needed to just focus and talk to someone and keep my mind off the tightness in my chest, the palpitations of my heart and the looming sense that I would drop dead any minute.

At the clinic, the doctor took my blood pressure, measured my heart beat and told me to calm down. It was just a panic attack, he said. Duh. I know. Then miraculously, my heart beat slowed down, I breathed easier and my chest loosened. The attack went as quickly as it came.

But this is the problem. When you get a panic attack, you almost always know it's just a panic attack and that nobody ever dies from a panic attack but your entire body, goaded by your mind, is in overdrive panic mode and there's nothing you can do except 1. take the prescribed medication to relax, or 2. find a doctor to check your vitals to reassure you it's just a panic attack and not something more serious.

What triggered the attack? I can't say for sure. I was fine the whole day except for shortness of breath. Then the breathing got shorter as I was driving. That led to me hyper-ventilating. Then the attack came. Terrifying.

The doc gave me Alprazolam (Xanax). That's a mild sedative. He gave me a whole strip, and told me to stop taking the other sedative Zopiclone, which is a short-acting ADDICTIVE hypnotic agent that puts you to sleep. Not that Xanax is not addictive either, if taken continuously on a prolonged basis in heavy doses or for recreational purposes.


And guess what? Xanax works! I'm in a calm and mellow state of mind penning this post. The mildest and safest I have felt since that awful Friday morning at IJN. Thank you Xanax!

I don't know what is causing me to get these attacks. Been googling and reading up on it and all the known causes do not apply to me. Stress and lack of rest and a very unfit body are perhaps the multi-cause, for now. Nevertheless, I must needs take steps.

1. Plenty of sleep and rest. Cuti dua minggu starting tomorrow.
2. Quit smoking. Cut down till fully stopped.
3. Eat healthily. No more sinfully delicious unhealthy food.
4. Avoid stress. If you have a problem, that's YOUR problem. Not mine.

I'll add 5. and 6. next month. Step by step.

5. Go to the gym. Or walk briskly for 10 minutes a day and build up my stamina and fitness from there.
6. Get married. Cheaper than hiring a driver at 6 in the morning just in case I need to go to IJN again.

Why am I telling you all this? So that next time if I ever get a panic attack and you're with me, you'll know what to do. I will be irrational and trembling, probably on the verge of passing out. So you need to calm me down, fish out my medication from my wallet which is always in my right side back pocket (I need to take two pink tablets), and quickly look for the nearest clinic and take me there. But let's pray there won't be a next time. With Xanax, the attacks should be under control. So far, they are.

Life without health is wasted. What's the point of living when you don't have a healthy life and the fear of dropping dead looms over your every waking moment?

And so my first tiny step towards blooming health was to order this for dinner. Steamed broccoli garnished with a sprinkling of golden brown garlic. Nutritious and delicious. Very nutty taste.



I am determined to eat well. And healthy. Because I want to live forever. (English students, please remember to NEVER start a sentence with Because. That's wrong grammar. But grammar doesn't apply here because this is my blog and suka hati aku lah.)

Oh, and I also bought my heart a gift today - Omega 3 Salmon Oil. Three bottles to last three months. Have you bought your heart a gift lately, gentle reader?

This blog will be closed until 300 readers type MM A385 and send to 33399.

Dear Gentle Reader,

AMBIL HANDFON MASING-MASING, PILIH NEW MESSAGE DAN TAIP :

MM A385

DAN HANTAR KE 33399

HANYA ITU YANG DIPERLUKAN UNTUK MEMASTIKAN KOMEN-KOMEN BLOG INI MENCECAH ANGKA 300 SEKALIGUS BERGERAK SEMULA.

Time to play rough.

On average, this blog is read by 3,000 people a day. And I have never charged a single sen for reading. It's always been free. But today it's PAY BACK TIME. After three years of entertaining you and keeping you up to date with gossip and inside stories, I think what I am asking in return is peanuts.

This blog will be closed until 300 or more people type MM A385 and send to 33399. All I'm asking is just that 10% of my 3,000 readers vote Ada Unutkmu now.

Once you have sent your vote, leave a comment and let me know. You may vote more than once, which entitles you to add another comment. One vote = one comment. So you may vote as many times as you want and your comments should equal that number of votes.

Once there are 300 comments, then this blog will be updated again. Until we reach our target of 300 comments, no further posting. Once we hit 300 comments, I'll post the next entry, a bumper issue!

No cheating please. Send your vote, then comment. 1 vote = 1 comment.

Happy voting, gentle peeps! And THANK YOU for spending 50 sen today. You won't regret it.

My swimming instructor, Andrew, and his equally hunky partner Rob.

Dear Gentle Reader,

I have decided to learn how to swim. Yes, isn't it malufying for an Iban like me that I can't swim? My forefathers hunted heads by paddling down rivers and my foremothers collected roots and exotic plants by river sides to make their dyes for their weavings. And here I am a city Iban who doesn't know how to swim. So I decided to do something about it.

This is Andrew, my swimming instructor. Sila jeleskan diri anda, hadek hadekku.



Andrew is an Australian born Italian. He's 26 years old and is six foot 3 inches tall. I didn't ask what his weight was. But I did say to him that I noticed he's not wearing a wedding band, and he replied with a million watt smile, “I'm not married. And I bet you want to know the size of my...err...feet. You've been secretly looking at them. I wear shoe size 12.” Ambik kau. More mega-watt smiles from Andrew and a wink. Aiyoh. He winked! So bashfully malu like a schoolgirl kena tangkap staring at her buah jantung hati.

Dub-dab-Dub-dab-Dub-dab kedengaran jantungku.

“Can I touch your hard six packs?” Mak aiiii! I didn't know from where or how those words came gushing out of my mouth! He smiled, took my right hand, and placed it on his stomach as he stiffened his muscles to let me feel how hard they were. And they were iron hard.

Dubdub-Dabdab-Dubdub-Dabdab-Dabdub-Dubdab!!!

He's working in KL training people like me how to fall in love with water. Silap hari bulan, fall in love with the instructor pulak.

OK, now that I have your complete and utter attention at the edge of your seat/bed/couch/sofa, please continue reading on before I tell you what happened between Andrew and his fellow trainer Rob yesterday at the poolside showers. Rob is 24, Australian, and works part-time as the bar-tender at KL Hilton Hotel. These boys have no shame, I tell you!



For some time now, only gentle readers with yahoo or gmail accounts or fellow bloggers can leave comments at this blog. The rest of the world can only read and suffer in silence, or scream for joy, whatever mood they may be in.

But I'm feeling generous and inclusive now. A lot of readers don't have yahoo or gmail or blog accounts, and therefore can't leave comments. So kesian, kan? So I'm opening this blog up. Now anyone can leave a comment. Even smelly anonymous flies. (But these ugly insects get deleted anyway.)

But if you must use ANONYMOUS to leave a comment, please add a nickname at the end of that comment. Without the nick, your comment won't get posted.

So nak tunggu apa lagi? Serang all the previous postings which made you angry, sad, happy, itchy, hungry, glamorous, but you couldn't comment! Geram, kan? Now you can. Balas dendam and comment away, dear gentle reader. All you have to do is click on the comment link. A comment window will pop up. Then start writing, bitching, ranting, whatever. Tulis novel pendek pun boleh.

So, back to Andrew and Rob.

Never met them and don't know who they are. Some models in some pics I googled off the net. Just my bait to get you reading till the end. Semua kena tipu, ek? Lariiiiikkk!

So, gentle reader, if you've been wanting to comment anonymously but can't, now it's possible. But please leave a nick so we know who you are.

Nikki has a forum!

Dear Gentle Reader,

It has been a relaxing and restful weekend. In an effort to stay healthy, I've decided to watch what I eat. Less fats, less sugar, less all those things lah that aren't so good for a forty one twenty one year old body.

And in the spirit of healthy dining, Nikki, Syed and I had dinner at Tarbush, a Middle eastern restaurant at Bukit Bintang last night.



Middle Eastern cuisine is healthy. Lots of salad, and the meats are mostly grilled or baked. Very little oil unless you count the olive oil. And olive oil is healthy oil. Some dishes are deep fried but the fats content are low. Haiyo. Ape yang aku merepek nie?

We had falafel, hommus with sliced lamb, and tabouleh for starters.



Then came the main course. Grilled prawns with a sour cream dip. I'm not a sour cream person but Syed said it was delicious! The prawns were fresh and succulent. And I love that slightly burnt taste.



Juicy grilled lamb cubes with herbs and onions. Heavenly!



The roasted chicken with fragrant rice was marvellous. The best ever!



After dinner, Nikki suggested we order the baclava, a selection of sweets. I'm not a sweets person and neither is Syed, so we politely suggested that Nikki should have the entire plate to herself.

“Hmmm. That's three hours on the thread-mill. Maybe four.”

The view directly opposite our table was quite delicious too.



Remember last week I mentioned starting a fan club for Nikki? I am glad to announce that a big Nikki fan, Basdavdan, has opened a Nikki fan forum! It's a great start! Thank you Bas! Nikki is really excited and very, very touched that many of my readers are fans of hers.

If you love Nikki, admire her voice, think that her music is different, like her style, want to meet others like you, go on over and register NOW! Meet and chat about Nikki at...

www.nikkipalikat.proboards58.com

Help spread the word in blogosphere. Link the forum and help yourself to the banner on the right side bar. Bas designed it and we want as many Nikki fans as possible to know about the forum. If you have a blog and you are my friend, upload the banner and link. Spread the love!

Opera fans would know what I mean when I say the aria 'Queen of The Night' from Mozart's Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) is one damn difficult show stopper. Especially the melisma (running notes). Guess who has been practising them for her album? Click to hear an 'operatic' Nikki...

Nikki's Practice Session

Patek merafak sembah menjunjung titah ke bawah duli Tuanku.

Dear Gentle Reader,

Do you know what 'duli' means? I think it means feet. Or is it toe? If 'mencemar duli' means to 'soil one's feet', then 'duli' must mean either feet or toe. Can anyone confirm this? So, to 'merafak sembah menjunjung titah ke bawah duli Tuanku' must mean to worship the ground under Tuanku's feet and to fulfill Tuanku's command.

Three hours ago, Nubhan stood on stage, and worshipped the ground under Tuanku's feet, fulfilling the command of a song. A historic moment in Nubhan's life and career.



He sang Ada Untukmu. The room fell silent when he opened his mouth.





Who did Nubhan sing for? Take a close look.



Her Majesty the Queen of Malaysia, Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah.



Ambik kau.

Her Majesty watched silently as Nubhan menjunjung titah Tuanku. Besides Nubhan's voice and the orchestral arrangement, you could hear a pin drop. Everyone watched, eyes fixed on the kid. It was magical. I think I am not overstating the fact when I say that Nubhan sang magnificently. And for no less a person than the country's most important lady.

No angsa. No out of tune. But plenty of rich, deep gravel tones. And the high notes were clear, powerful and bright. And he caressed the words Shah Jahan and Mumtaz as delicately as possible; feel habis. Siap angkat kaki. “Patek berniat menghadiahkan persembahan yang paling syahdu gile buat Tuanku Permaisuri,” katanya berbisik di telingaku sebelum naik pentas. And he actually did. This was a new Nubhan I heard for the very first time last night. Magnificent.

At the end of the performance, Her Majesty clapped enthusiastically. DAULAT TUANKU!



In the room were also Sultanahs, princesses and members of all the nine royal households of Malaysia. I'm not kidding. All nine states were represented. That's a lot of royalty in one room.

Majlis Santapan Malam Amal Seni Diraja was organised by Bumiputra Designers Association to raise funds for Yayasan Dunia Melayu. Designer outfits by Malaysian designers were modeled by princesses of all the nine royal households. Singers of royal descent Shawn Bahrain and Intan Sarafina also sang a song each. The royal banquet took place at One World Hotel, One Utama.

Then for the finale, Ning sang.




This was how the room looked.



If you notice the different angles of the pictures of Her Majesty, it was because I was running all over the place to get the best pictures. Gigih, tak? But I couldn't get close to the front of the stage for obvious reasons. No one blocks Her Majesty's view. So no full frontal pics of Ning or Nubhan. But I have this candid pic of them during dinner!

Ning: Angkat kaki tu dah jadi trademark adik ke?

Me: Entah lah, kak. Buruk ke, kak?

Ning: Tak. Kelakar je. Wahahahahahaha!

By the way, here's a close up of the dessert : Coffee Parfait with Mango Sauce. Just a fancy name for coffee ice-cream lah.



Jokes aside, are you, dear gentle reader, familiar with the age old tradition of royal patronage? If you're not, let me put it in a nutshell. Royal patronage means a person of much lesser rank and position in life would offer his art and talent at the disposal of royalty. In return, royalty would favour this person in various ways. Royalty becomes patron and artiste becomes ward. A loose understood agreement.

Nubhan's performance tonight was his first step in the right direction. As I was explaining this age old tradition, Datuk Maznah Hamid, the Iron Lady of Malaysia came over to our table for a chat. She picked up on my long winded roundabout lecture and concised everything. “Bila Tuanku titah, patek junjung. Habis cerita. Paham?” That was simple and straightforward advice. Very nice of her. Thank you, Datuk.




Jovian was also at the dinner, and his couture dress was modeled by one of the princesses.



Designer Bill Keith was impressed with Nubhan's singing.

Bill: Let me make you a suit. I don't make men's suit. But for you, I will.

Nubhan: Really?

Bill: Yes, really.

Even whilst we were dining, fans quietly came to ask for autographs.



After Her Majesty left the room, the flood gates broke loose and fans (some royal) came rushing up to our table to take pictures with Ning and Nubhan. To protect their royal identities, I took back pictures instead!

“Birthday Ku nanti Nubhan datang ok!”



“Pernah dijemput ke Sri Menanti?”



“Siapa manager? Ada kad?”

Nubhan was overwhelmed, but he carried himself well. Confidence level has definitely increased and he is becoming more at ease with interacting with new acquaintances. In the foyer, we took tons of piccies. Here are some.

Their Royal Highnesses the princesses and a prince of Pahang.



Datuk Mahathir Lokman, Master Of Ceremony.



Mahani Awang.



Ella Bashir.

Mohamed Faroz bin Mohamed Jakel, the owner of JAKEL Palace of Silks & Furnishings, sponsored the fabrics of the designers' creations.

I know. Aku pendek.

The above picture was taken by Shukri, a loyal reader. I hope he puts up more pics of the royal banquet at his blog, Le Blanc Et Noir. I helped take the pic below using his camera. (Shukri emailed me these two pics an hour ago. Gigih jugak!)



I bet this picture will become an avatar in the Nubhan chatrooms and forums. Siapa cepat, dia dapat!

Me: Within the space of one week, you have technically sung for five Sultans, all the nine royal houses of Malaysia, and Her Majesty the Queen. Macam mana dik?

Nubhan: Macam mimpi, bang.

Gila Kuasa Lagi.

Dear Gentle Reader,

I think I have an anxiety disorder. In layman's terms, it means I am prone to panic attacks. I've googled 'anxiety attacks' and 'panic attacks' and it seems the symptoms I have been exhibiting lately bear a very close resemblance to the symptoms of the above medical condition. Not good. I may need to see a doctor soon to verify this. And honestly, I don't like doctors. They smell funny.

I've also discovered that my irregular eating pattern is wreaking havoc on my blood sugar level, which also explains why these symptoms manifest themselves in the late afternoons. So I'm now disciplining myself to either have breakfast the moment I wake up or not skip lunch, like I normally do. And this small step has helped. I have gone without an anxiety attack for two days.

But enough about me.

Nikki. Judging from the positive response I am getting from my readers, maybe it would be a good time to start up a Nikki Fan Club. But let's call it something else. How about 'Nikki's Posse'? Nikki, if you're reading this, let me know what you think. Nikki fans out there, let me hear you. Wanna join 'Nikki's Posse'? (What is a posse? A posse is defined as an entourage.) Let's start small and build up from there. Online first. Do I hear any interested 'posseurs'? Leave a comment/suggestion and we'll take it from there.



Nubhan. He had a photoshoot at Berita Harian yesterday morning. With Aizat and Farah. What do all three of them have in common? And what were they up to in the pic below?



Buy Berita Harian next month to find out.

Later in the evening, Nubhan had a dubbing session for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. From American English to Malay. For STAR TV on Astro. Nubhan didn't get to dub any major roles. Instead, he made cameo appearances here and there. Something to do with 'pembakar roti'. Watch the movie to find out.




Other than Nubhan, the celebs involved include Mawi, Zahid, Aznil, Sarimah, AC, Dafi, Shawal, Saharudin, Abie, and Syazwan. The press conference will be on the 17th of September.



And those watching TV3 yesterday eveing at 5.30pm would have caught Nubhan on Muzik Muzik. His hit song Ada Untukmu has been officially nominated! Here are pics of the pre-recorded show taken last Thursday.







If you're a Nubie, start voting. Type MM A385 and send to 33399 now. I mean NOW. Reach for your handphone NOW and do it if you want to see Nubhan at the Semi-Final of Juara Lagu. NOW. Go on, spend 50 sen on the kid.

Good. Do this everyday for 90 days (that's just RM45 and I KNOW many of you spend RM45 on a meal!). The song needs to stay for 12 weeks (that's 3 months) in the Muzik Muzik chart to qualify for the Semi-Final.

And if you're an overseas Nubie but still want to vote, join the Nubhan Juara Lagu Fund. Leave a comment and an email address and I'll forward you more information.



And it is COMPULSORY (WAJIB) for every Nubie to copy and paste the above banner at his or her blog. Don't be lazy. Do it NOW.

And Nikki 'posseurs', leave a comment so I know we have the numbers to start 'Nikki's Posse'.

Have you typed MM A385 and sent to 33399 yet? Not yet? Do it NOW!

Gosh. I'm so gila kuasa lately.

Opinions, opinions.

Dear Gentle Reader,

That I am prone to exaggeration is a matter of debate. That I have a way with words is perhaps undeniable. Of course, like every writer, one has one's good days and then there are the bad writer's block days.

Yesterday I wrote about Nikki's obsession with make-up and chocolates and Nubhan's stunning performance. Many will take for granted that I was telling the truth about Nikki's addiction but there might be some who may question my account of Nubhan's performance and the level thereof, citing bias and unmitigated marketing (propah).

Therefore it is with much delight that I screen print and post this picture of a comment left by my reader SYURA which more than corroborates my account.



Now that I have made my point, allow me to point you to a very valid point made by composer/producer Audi Mok about Nikki's RELAKAN. Some fans have questioned why Nikki's first single is different and unexpected. My answer is simple: why not?

Everyone was expecting another CARAMU. Audi eloquently blogged about why NOT CARAMU. Click on the link.

Audi Mok on RELAKAN

Note : It is a strongly worded post and may be unsuitable for children under the age of 18.

If you like RELAKAN, leave a comment. If you dislike RELAKAN, leave a comment too.

Sushi, Strawberries and A Royal Performance.

Nikki: Save me, Vern, save me!

Me: Save you from what???

Nikki: From myself!!!

You see, gentle reader, Nikki is addicted to make-up. She cannot pass a make-up counter in a store without bringing home a small part of the counter.

Me: So what do these little babies do?

Nikki: This one is a make-up artist's secret. It's a special paste that gives a shine and lustre on top of foundation. And this one... well, this one is also another secret weapon.

Me: And how much did you spend?

Nikki: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Nikki and I had planned to meet up for dinner at Pavilion to discuss her album cover. She arrived early and I, as usual, arrived fashionably late. So she had time to kill. At the make-up counter.

Nikki: It's all your fault! If you had arrived on time, I wouldn't have wandered into Parkson!

Me: And did I force you to buy anything?

Nikki: NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

After 10 minutes of justifying her spending, we ordered dinner. Not that her justification meant anything besides making her feel less guilty.

Nikki: Now I feel bad.

Me: So you should. Now order something to eat.

Me jahat, kan? Nikki sulked and pouted for 5 seconds.

Nikki: OK. I'm over it. Let's eat!

Me: That's my girl!

Nikki ordered a platter of salmon sushi. Healthy, she said. Good. Nikki has started going to the gym again (hence the gym outfit) and Japanese food is undeniably healthy.



And I ordered a bento of tempura, salmon sashimi, mackerel teriyaki...



And spicy soft shelled crab sushi!



And then we ordered a platter of mixed sushi!



Here's a close up!



If you think dinner was sinful, guess where we went after dinner for dessert? Nikki's latest favourite hang out!



And then we saw this huge poster on the wall of the chocolatier.

Me: So why is this place your latest favourite hang out?

Nikki: Because it has all my favourite things!!!

I think we ate more than we discussed her album cover. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Nikki and I have a pretty clear idea what we want for her album cover, so it was all good. I'm proud of Nikki (minus the make-up addiction) because she has matured. She showed me references of what and how she sees the album cover, and I was impressed. Some excellent ideas that would work pretty well.

I was also impressed with how the young man in the picture below handled himself last Monday night.

Nubhan: Bang, nervous lah.

Me: Nervous pasal ape?

Nubhan: Nervous lah.

Me: Janji adik jangan lupa sembah sebelum mula persembahan, dah ok lah tu. Nervousness is all in the mind. Ingat lagi latihan control stage fright?

Nubhan: Ingat.

Me: Good. Remember everything we practised and rehearsed. And remember that trick I taught you? That's the secret of performing well.

Nubhan was invited to sing at a private wedding reception that was graced by no less than five royal crowned Heads of State and their respective consorts. Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Perlis. (And since it was a private affair, I am bound by palace protocol rules to not disclose details.)

So it was no wonder that he was very nervous. But when he went up on stage and employed the exercises he learned, he delivered stunningly.







Their Royal Highnesses.




Nearing the end of Nubhan's performance, the bride and groom processed up to the stage to cut the cake.



And he serenaded the couple with his hit song, Ada Untuk Mu (specially requested by the bride), as they cut the cake. Very touching!






Despite his nervousness at performing before royalty for the first time ever in his young life, Nubhan did and said all the right things, carried himself elegantly and sang well. His confidence level has increased by leaps and bounds. But ini hanya permulaan. Lagi banyak perlu dipelajari dan diperbaiki dan ditempuhi.

And when the command came in yesterday morning for him to perform at yet another royal function again this coming weekend, I wasn't surprise. A royal command performance. Of course, patek menjunjung titah Tuanku.

A very important and special person.

Dear Gentle Reader

Last Sunday, I was at Mydin, Subang. These familiar faces were there too. Take a look.

Nikki with her chunky bangles.



Nubhan in his Oakleys with his Ipod headphones on.



Dafi with his gifts from a Dafinite in Brunei, Nabila.



Ning kicked off the Suria FM road show.



Datuk Mydin and Datin had front row seats.



“What's my first single called?”



“I love you too!”



After the show, Nubhan invited his Nubies for KFC! Guess who the beautiful lady in the green tudung sitting in between Tira and Fitrynne is?



Maybe this clue will help.



Nubies took over the restaurant.



An entire family of Nubies!



And yesterday Nubhan and I had lunch with a very important and special person.



We had kerapu asam.



Grilled sotong.



And plenty of other delicious dishes at The House Of Sundanese, KLCC.

It was her very first time meeting Nubhan. Despite his busy schedule, he made time to meet her at last and fulfill this young girl's dream who has been wanting to meet Nubhan ever since she started his fansite but because her studies must come first, she has had to abandon every opportunity to meet him. Until yesterday. Who is this very important and special person? Click on the link to find out...

Anis' Life...

Kenduri Kesyukuran Nubhan di Pekan Juasseh, Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan

Dear Gentle Reader,

It was a touching home-coming for Nubhan last Saturday. Only six months ago his neighbours and friends knew him as the quiet and unassuming sales and marketing exec working at a bank in KL who commuted on a daily basis from Seremban to KL and back by bus.

Last week, they celebrated him as the voice of the hit song Ada Untuk Mu. They celebrated a star of Akademi Fantasia who has made them proud and put their little town Juasseh on the entertainment map.

Nubhan and his parents invited family, friends, neighbours and Nubies to join them to give thanks to God for His blessings last Saturday. I'll let these pictures tell the story.

Nubhan's humble home.



Distinctively minang.



Ladies chopping up fruit, vegetables and condiments.



Nubhan's mom frying cakes.



Sambal and petai.



Chicken and prawns, plenty of prawns!



Fried chicken never tasted better!



Open wood fire - the best!



When you invite 300 people, you'll need 300 plates.



Baskets and baskets of fruit.



Prayers of thanksgiving.






Nubhan's dad inviting his guests to lunch.



The first Nubies to arrive - Misz Ieja, Zarguse, AhkakJolobu.



The guests - family, friends and neighbours.



The food! Pedas but hey, you're in Negeri Sembilan, minang territory!




Ayam Goreng Berempah.



Gulai Daging.



Sambal Udang Petai.



Ikan Keli Salai Masak Lemak.



Nubhan's mom, aunt, sister and aunt.



More family members.



Ketua Kampung Encik Aziz Chulan.





Nubies from Seremban were the first to arrive. Aisyah, Harney, Ilah and Erin.



The sweet and shy girl in the middle is Erin, the youngest registered Nubie!



AhkakJolobu and Misz Ieja.



Nubhan and his mates.



More mates!



And they even helped out with washing dishes!



Then a coach full of Nubies and three cars arrived from Kuala Lumpur.



MissMulan, Fazy, Fitrynne and Kikey!



TwinkyStar, MissMulan, Ucu, Thynnie, Nord, Edna, Dyla and LadyM.




Ucu, Nubies' Secretary enjoying her lunch.



Twinkystar.



The official photographer, Halle.



Miss President Farfar with Twinkystar and Tira.



More Nubies! I see Wanda and Waty too.




Ajym, a staunch Nubie.



Nord. Nice tudung.




Nubies from as far as Sabah!






The boy carrying the kettle is wearing a silk sampin with pure gold embroidered threads hand woven in Brunei, a gift from a Nubie there.




After the luncheon kenduri at his home, Nubhan and his entourage of family and Nubies made their way to the Dewan Hadhari where he was received and celebrated by the whole town as their very own star.











He sang four songs.






After the celebrations, he was received at the Balai Raya Juasseh where tea awaited.



They threw rice at him!



More eating.





Two formidable ladies - Mother and President.

Before we drove back to KL that night, he asked his mum to prepare his favourite dish for dinner - tempoyak. Nubhan is just a simple kampung boy at heart. And maybe that's why his fans love him.

EMBARGO

Dear Gentle Reader,

I want to talk about the word 'embargo' and what it means. In journalism and public relations, a news embargo or press embargo is a request by a source that the information or news provided by that source not be published until a certain date.

Read more here : wikipedia.org/wiki/Embargo_(journalism)

Embargoes are important because they help both parties; the source and the journalist reporting the story. The source gets to keep their story and material secret whilst the journalist gets more time to prepare a good story and then release it at the agreed date.

As a blogger, I always try to be ethical and professional and I go as far as imposing journalism rules on myself. It is the only way to be respected as a serious blogger. Yesterday I imposed two embargoes on myself. Which pleasantly surprised my sources.

Yesterday, HAI magazine had a photo shoot at Taman Warisan, Putrajaya. I normally do not go to photo-shoots unless there are compelling reasons to do so. I decided to go to this one because it was a 'cover' shoot. Elyana, Nadia, Nubhan and Riz will be on the cover of the Raya bumper issue and because the issue will only be on the shelves in late September, I thought it would be unkind and thoroughly unprofessional of me to scoop the magazine and publish pictures of the shoot and steal HAI's exclusivity and thunder and suck the wind out of its sails. So I decided to take piccies of the 'making of' instead. Strictly speaking, this is not an embargo as I am already releasing the news, but it is more an embargo of the pictures which will remain exclusive to HAI.

The morning started with nasi lemak breakfast.



Then Nubhan went riding.



He also had a passenger.



Later, he became a rubber tapper.



And Nadia looked gorgeous as the rubber tapper's partner.



If you want to see more, buy HAI magazine's Raya bumper issue which will be on sale from 20th September onwards. Very nice piccies, I'm telling you.

The second embargo I imposed on myself was TV3's Muzik Muzik's pre-recorded episode.

Firstly, I'm happy to announce that Ada Untuk Mu has been nominated for Muzik Muzik. Secondly, I want to apologise to my readers for the mix up in programming. I had earlier written in my previous post that Nubhan would be appearing 'live' on Muzik Muzik yesterday to be followed by a pre-recording of the nominated song later. After several phone calls, it was clarified that Nubhan would be recording the song for next week's nomination and not appear 'live' as well yesterday. If this is confusing you, then ignore everything I just said and take it from me that next Thursday you will see Nubhan performing his song on Muzik Muzik which was recorded last night.

So what is the embargo? No pictures of Nubhan performing and no description of the show's rundown.

You will need to watch the show next Thursday. But I did take behind-the-scenes piccies. Go figure :-)






So those were the two embargoes I imposed on myself yesterday. And if anything, I also helped promote HAI and Muzik Muzik with this teaser of a post.

After the recording of Muzik Muzik at Sri Pentas II, Shah Alam, Haina invited us to join her for late dinner at Pelita Bangsar. I had rice with masala chicken, long beans and salted egg. With my favourite beverage, iced lemon tea.



Sitting next to me was Stacy quietly reading about herself in Remaja. I silently watched her with deep admiration. The girl is humble and unassuming. I have seen other artistes (whom I shall not name) loudly declaring how gorgeous they look when they see pictures of themselves in magazines. Stacy did no such thing.






Riz had to leave early, and dinner stretched into supper. We adjourned outside for fresh air after two hours. (It was getting stuffy inside.) Guess who joined us?



Poor 'angsa' got bullied again...

AF6 WORKSHOP

Dear Gentle Reader,

Please excuse me if this post seems dry and devoid of literary wit and style. I am extremely tired. My brain is fast asleep and I am uploading this post on auto-pilot. So here goes.

The students of AF6 had a very privileged workshop yesterday. It is not often that experienced leaders in their own fields spend quality one-on-one time with you. But this was exactly what the kids of AF6 had at Celebrity Fitness, 1 Utama from 10am till 6pm yesterday.

To kick off the workshop, the kids warmed up on the stationary bike.




There are two certainties in life: death and taxes. The first session of the morning was also the most crucial. Elizabeth, a taxation expert formerly from Ernst & Young navigated the kids through the wonderful world of taxation. Tax is something no one can escape. Not even artistes. So Elizabeth explained to them how they can start preparing to hand over part of their income to the Government.



Then it was Kak Fati's turn. She highlighted the importance of communication in the entertainment industry. How to deal with the media, with one another, even with those whom you wished you didn't have to deal with. The kids enjoyed the role plays and the anecdotes and the real life scenarios Kak Fati used.




After lunch, a panel of industry big guns had a forum. Syazwan, Zainal Alam Kadir, Saharudin Mustafa, Hafidah Samat, Ning Baizura, Amin and Freddie Fernandez shared their experiences on surviving in a cut-throat industry. This was an excellent session that was both informative and inspiring.



Then Jovian spoke with the kids on how to create an image and style for themselves. Fashion and music are inseparable. And these kids need to learn fast on how to look good. ALL. THE. TIME.




Then Farah from Palace of the Golden Horses and her banquet manager demonstrated correct table etiquette and shared tips on how not to embarrass yourself at a formal dinner.



The workshop ended with a session with Linda Jasmine. Entertainers must know how to move confidently on stage and off stage. She drove this point home.




The excellent team that put it all together!



After the workshop, we adjourned to Pick A Brew for coffee and cakes.

The following pictures are my gift to my readers. Feel free to copy and paste the following piccies in your blogs or in forums. You may even use them as avatars. Siapa cepat, dia dapat! And no, you don't have to credit me. As I said, my gift to you. Enjoy!

Ladies, smile.

Ladies, give me attitude with a capital A!

Stacy: Halleu!

Me: Halleu!!

Nubhan: Pagi pagi dah kena bincang pasal income tax!

Me: Ingat senang nak jadi artis? Hehehe!!!

A lanun from Juasseh who was recently in Pangkor said I could share these piccies with my readers too!






The lanun chilling out after a hard day's work of lanuning.

90 : 10

Dear Gentle Reader,

Yesterday was an important day for the local music industry. We came together to do something proactive about our future. We each signed a petition that seeks to petition the Government to formulate policies that would protect local music. It's called the 90 : 10 Petition. Thank you KARYAWAN for galvanising and spearheading this bold initiative!

In a nutshell, we are petitioning the Government to restrict foreign music from flooding our airwaves. We are petitioning that only 10% of foreign Malay music be played on local stations instead of the current ratio where foreign Malay music rule 40% of the airwaves.

Currently, every 10 Malay songs you hear on the radio, 4 are from overseas. That's a lot of foreign Malay songs. With 90 : 10, you'll hear only 1 foreign Malay song every time 10 Malay songs are played. Which means songs like Nikki's latest single RELAKAN get a better chance of being heard by you. Which means Nikki gets a better chance to cari makan.

Forgetting the arguments for and against protectionism, I like to be pragmatic and realistic. As long as my artistes get a better chance to have their songs played on the radio, I'm all for it. It's about survival, and if it means enforcing protective measures, why not. Foreign music industries do not give Malaysian music a chance. So why should we give them a foothold in ours?

Here are some pictures from yesterday's historic meeting.

M. Nasir making a stance.





Farhan and Nikki.



Oopps. Burnt out pic.




Freddie Fernandez and Aidit Alfian.



Ad Samad.
Single, available and ready to mingle.
And a damn good lyricist too.



Francesca Peters.



Dayang Nurfaizah. Nice tee.

And then I met a delightfully strange and peculiar young lady by the name of Ana Raffali. A singer songwriter in the true sense of the genre in that she writes her own songs and performs them herself. Not many of these around in an industry cluttered with ready-made artistes who don't know an A flat from an A sharp. (Not that ready-made artistes haven't got something going for them. Heck, all three of my artistes are ready-made. But the difference is I'm training them to recognise the difference between an A flat and an A sharp. So I can talk.)

And she fearlessly spoke at the forum. Flawless spoken English. An independent mind. I like.

I'd seen youtubes of her performing her songs. Dressed in a kebaya. Picture this. A young girl strumming her guitar and singing sweet, sometimes sultry tunes (“alt-indie post-pop with blues overtone” as she describes her music). Dressed in a kebaya. Don't you find that delightfully strange and peculiar? Either she's wacky and idiosyncratic or she's a marketing genius or she just has an eclectic sense of style. Or all of the above.

Thankfully her music isn't dark, broody and angst-ridden. Because I would find that far too pretentious in someone so young. Instead, Ana is quite the opposite.

Me: I've always wanted to ask you this question. Is the kebaya your performance signature trademark outfit?

Ana: Err... no. *puzzled look*

Me: It's just that I've seen youtubes of you performing in a kebaya. That's not something one often sees these days. Why the kebaya?

Ana: I don't really know. I guess I feel comfortable in it. Why not the kebaya?

Me: So it's not a branding thing or a fashion statement you're trying to create or something deliberate.

Ana: Not at all. I have lots of kebaya. So why not wear something I'm comfortable wearing?

Me: How delightfully strange.

I must be the first person to ask a singer songwriter about her dress sense rather than the music she writes and sings. I hope she's not insulted or offended. Her material is already good. Her dress sense makes it even better.

Little Ms. Ana

Festival Filem Malaysia

Michael: Want to go or not?

Me: Up to you la.

Michael: If you go, I go. If you don't go, then I don't go.

Me: Aiyo. You have to go and show face lah. You're the producer of Anak.

Michael: I pick you up at 7pm.

So I went. And I took these pics of my friends. You should know all of them.

Selamatkan Industri Muzik Tempatan

Dear Gentle Reader,

My fiancée complains that her blog has only 3.5 readers. So kesian. (Sayang, who is the .5?) So please do my sayang a favour and start reading her blog too ok. She's a mad scientist studying in Brisbane. She loves chocolates. And she's much much much more cleverer than me.

WICKED!

Last Wednesday afternoon I was at the press conference to launch Anugerah Skrin. So were these three ladies...



And next Tuesday, I will be at PWTC at 3pm to sign a very important petition. We want to petition the Government to regulate radio stations in the country to play 90% Malaysian songs and 10% foreign songs on their Malay language channels.

If you're a musician or an artiste or an actor or somehow involved in the entertainment industry, join me and my artistes next week and stand up for your rights. Para penggiat seni dijemput ke perhimpunan KARYAWAN bagi memprotes kemasukan lagu dan persembahan artis luar dan mengumpul sebanyak mungkin tandatangan untuk petisyen bagi menghantar memorandum kepada Kerajaan.

Tuesday 12th August
3pm
Putra World Trade Centre (Bilik Johor Kedah)

Title this song, please.

Dear Gentle Reader

Last Tuesday night Nikki recorded another track for her album with composer/producer Kieran Kuek. This guy is amazing. You should read his blog.

crewcut75.blogspot.com

Back to the recording session. We haven't got a title for the song yet. The lyrics are very deep. Layers upon layers of meaning and metaphors and sub-text and definitely open to interpretation. Even sexual, perhaps? Tell me what you see in these words by lyricist Mode...

Guruh pun berdentum
Hujan mula turun
Sejam selepas
Dia meninggalkanku
Pandanganku kabur
Nyarisku tersungkur
Di tepi jalan yang
Asing nan terasing

Adam apakah ini
Benakku tak mengerti
Tiba-tiba perasaan menyelubungi
Seram bukannya demam
Gigil bukannya geram
Jantan meninggalkan yang menyambutnya bukan

Ia memanggilku
Ia merenungku
Dari kegelapan
Yang makin memekat

Jantungku tersentak
Warasku meledak
Namun ku terkaku
Terdiam terpaku

Mula dari satu
Terus ke seribu
Namun langkah ini
Untuk diekori
Rumah usang itu
Yang di ufuk timur
Jadi harapanku
Untuk berselindung

Pintunya tak dikunci
Kesempatan ku ambil
Kusandarkan seluruh
Tenaga padanya
Tapaknya kedengaran
Aku semakin buntu
Bila mata ku buka
Dia di hadapanku

Ia merenungku
Ia mahukanku
Dari kegelapan
Yang makin memekat

Jantungku tersentak
Warasku meledak
Namun ku terkaku
Terdiam terpaku

Apa yang menghantui
Apa ku lari dari
Apa yang ku sedari
Apa yang ku mimpi

Persisnya kehidupan
Dan apa di hadapan
Yang sungguh menakutkan
Pasti dilalui

In your opinion, what are the lyrics about? What title would you name this song?

Dear Gentle Reader,

I am sorry if I shocked or scared you. Heck, I was shocked and scared myself. I am feeling so much better now and taking things light and easy.

To all my dear friends and readers who called and sms'ed and left kind wishes, THANK YOU. I will take your advice.

And to the twelve or so people who offered to drive me to the hospital in future, any time day or night, thank you too. (Now I get to save on petrol.)

I thought I was going to die early this morning.

Dear Gentle Reader,

At 6.15am this morning I drove myself to the Institute Jantung Negara (IJN). I thought I was having either a stroke or an heart attack or both.

It started around 5.15am as I was watching Babylon 5 on Astro Cinemax. I felt a sharp stabbing pain in the left area of my chest. Suspiciously close to my heart. I rubbed my chest. The pain came again. So I pounded my chest. At that point I could feel the blood gurgling around in my heart. My feet went cold and the coldness crept up my legs and before I knew it my entire body went cold. I rushed to the bathroom and saw that my face was pale. I began to cold sweat too.

My heart was beating furiously by now. The stabbing pain in my chest was still there, throbbing intermittently. I thought I was going to die. Should I call for an ambulance? Should I call someone? It was nearly 5.30am and nobody would be awake at this unearthly hour.

I tried to calm myself down. Maybe this was just an anxiety attack. Like the last time. So I went to my bedroom to lie down. The stabbing pain had gone but the cold sweat was still breaking out. As my heart beat began to relax, I told myself to calm down and breathe regularly. Then doubts crept into my thoughts. What if my blood pressure fell? People have died from low blood pressure. What if this was the pre-cursor to a stroke? Will I die in my sleep? My heart started to race again, and this time the cold sweat was positively numbing.

If I was going to die, let it be in the nation's top heart hospital where I would have at least the best medical attention and a fighting chance to stay alive. It was already 6am. I got up, got dressed and got into my car. I was moving guardedly and holding on to the walls, as my sight was getting blurry and my knees felt like giving way any moment. Started the car engine. Fuel gauge showed an almost empty tank. Shit. IJN is on Jalan Tun Razak. Fifteen minutes' drive.

I drove to the Petronas gas station round the corner and filled up. I muttered a prayer, to keep myself focussed and calm and conscious. Traffic was already building up on the main roads but I kept repeating to myself, “don't panic, stay calm, don't panic, stay calm.”

Arrived IJN in one piece. Thankfully the car park area at IJN at 6.30am in the morning was empty. I parked, locked up and calmly walked to the Emergency Ward and presented myself at the reception counter.

“Dada saya sakit.”

In less than five minutes, I had wires attached to my body (ECG), my blood pressure measured and several nurses fussing over me. It was scary, but at the same time it was also reassuring that I was now in safe hands. I also realised I had forgotten to bring my camera. Pics of me wired up would have been excellent blog material.

“Your blood pressure and ECG are all showing normal signs. But we will need to monitor you. We'll check you in and take a blood sample at 9.15am. Try to get some sleep,” said the doctor on duty.

Do you think you can sleep if you thought you were having an heart attack? Never mind. I rested. At 9.20am a nurse came to my bed and said she needed to do another ECG. More wires. Then she took my blood. Nasty business.

At about 10am I found myself sitting in front of Dr. Rudy Wee.

“Your blood test indicated a negative result. Normally if someone has an heart attack or a stroke, the heart would produce a certain enzyme. We couldn't find any trace of that particular enzyme in your system.”

“So if I didn't have an heart attack or a stroke, what did I have?” I asked the doctor.

“Chest pains are tricky. It's hard to tell sometimes. Most likely muscular. But come back if you get this again and we'll investigate further.”

Fifteen minutes later, I settled my medical bill and drove home.



I'm off to sleep. Must rest. Cannot die yet. So much work still needs to be done with Ning, Nikki, Yanie and Nubhan.

Profile Shoot

Dear Gentle Reader,

Yesterday we had a profile shoot which started at 8am in the morning and ended around 8pm last night. That's roughly 12 hours of having your face made-up, your hair messed up and then being photographed in clothes you normally do not wear.

But Nikki and Nubhan didn't mind.

What is a profile shoot? Basically, it is a photographer capturing different looks of a person and these looks then get compiled into a PROFILE which is then sent out to clients. A profile is a marketing tool and a profile shoot is the first process in creating a profile.

We shot three looks: sporty, smart casual, and glamorous. Not all the looks are represented here (nanti tak ada surprise kan?) but these few pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy!











Thank you Palace Of The Golden Horses for generously sponsoring your fabulous venue. And to my friend Fid, thank you for sponsoring the photography. Everyone, go over to Fid's website now! Click on the link below.

FID FATHIR

After the shoot, I rushed over to Madam Kwan's at KLCC, risking life and limb to get there on time for Nubhan FC's first formal AJK meeting by fighting dangerous traffic and wild animals on the way. OK lah, there were no wild animals and the traffic wasn't so bad.

The meeting was in full throttle when I arrived. (Puas hati ada AJK yang berwibawa.) Now I don't have to exercise my gile kuase-ness that much anymore because all these beautiful ladies combined are more gile kuase than me.



And then a surprise!



I was close to crying. It took all my powers of concentration to push back the tears. (It is not classy to cry in public katanya.)



But later in the car driving home alone, I cried. Because I know that I am loved.

We toured Penang and Perak over the weekend!

Dear Gentle Reader,

It's already 2am in the morning and Nikki and Nubhan and I just arrived home from a very tiring but enormously satisfying road tour. So I shall keep this posting picture friendly (self-descriptive) and short, because in less than five hours, we have to be up again for another very long day of photo-shoot at the Palace Of The Golden Horses.

First of all, many many thanks to Suria FM for inviting us along to join them on their Rancak Tour 2008.

The road show took us to two destinations; Penang and Lumut. We traveled by coach. Six hours up to Penang. As we neared the first venue, Nikki decided to get ready. The girl has mastered the art of doing her face up in a moving vehicle...

Hold mirror with one hand, apply foundation with the other. Use fingers for smooth effect.



Place foundation on hand for easy access. Wear jade for effect.



Very gently apply mascara. Listen to soothing music to keep you calm.



Behind us, gently purring away were two sleepy heads...



Upon arrival at The Penang Megamall, lunch awaited us at Pizzahut.




Then the show began. Nikki showed us how to sing high notes...



And when you dah penat, the trick is to strike a pose...



Nubhan was all nerves when he saw the huge crowd at first...



But quickly mastered the situation...



Nikki sang Caramu and Relakan whilst Nubhan sang Dealova and Ada Untukmu.

Backstage...



After the show, we drove to Lumut, Perak. Another three hours. We arrived in the dead of night and stayed at a four star resort by the beach which had long corridors with high ceilings that looked like a set out of a horror movie. Very nice. But in the morning, the place looked far more welcoming. Especially the breakfast and lunch.

The Lumut tour was at Dataran Hadhari, a vast beach recreational area. It was swelteringly hot. So I decided to go shopping at one of the stalls near the stage. Took off my jeans and put on this new pair of bermudas.



And I estimated more than a thousand people watched the show. Nikki and Nubhan were well rested and therefore in good form.








Nikki sang Caramu and Relakan whilst Nubhan sang Menghitung Hari 2 and Ada Untukmu.

Inevitably, waiting backstage after your performance can get very boring. So Nikki and I decided to entertain ourselves...

The L'Oreal Look



The Prada Look



The Christian Dior Look



The Follow Me Look

Whilst someone was sitting quietly in a corner stuffing his face...



No, he's not putting on weight. That's a rambutan in his mouth.

Then the finale, when all the artistes went back up on stage to throw rolled up t-shirts into the crowd.




Then dinner before the long ride back to KL. The three of us had a whole table to ourselves. It was lantak time!



Once again, THANK YOU Suria FM for bringing us to Penang and Lumut. Let's do this again!

HIDUP PASTI RANCAK!

STYLO at Fashion Grand Prix.

Datuk Nancy Yeoh, owner of RAPR, launched her new brand concept STYLO last night at the Fashion Grand Prix at the KL Hilton hosted by Singapore Tourism Board in conjunction with the Singapore GP and Singapore Fashion Week.

STYLO is a series of fashion shows, events, concerts and Datuk Nancy hopes to make her brand concept THE talk of the town!

Ning, Nikki and Nubhan came dressed according to the theme of the night, GLAMOROUS!

Malaysia's top designers paraded their masterpieces.




Some of the celebrity guests...

Sean Ghazi, Emilia and Nubhan



Nikki, Michael Osman Ong, Nubhan



Nikki, Ning, Dato' Seri Panglima Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, Nubhan



Yang Mulia Tengku Puteri Seri Kemala Pahang Tengku Aishah, Ning, Nubhan

Tengku: Nubhan! Nubhan! Nyanyi sikit!

Nubhan: “Di sana pungguk menanti...”

Tengku: Ahhhhhhhhhhh!!!

When the daughter of a Sultan asks you to sing, you sing. On the spot. In front of a room full of celebrities, VVIPs, politicians, ambassadors, and royalty. Was Her Royal Highness the Princess of Pahang impressed? Judging by her broad smile, I dare say Her Royal Highness was impressed.

Nubhan is learning fast the art of public relations.

I'm officially 21 years old. Suka hati aku lah!

Dear Gentle Reader,

It was yet another very long day for Nubhan yesterday. He was up at 6am (only 4 hours sleep the night before) and by 7.30am he was live on air on Suria FM as the guest for the breakfast show.

The rest of the morning was spent learning a new song to be recorded later in the night. By mid afternoon we were at Utusan for an interview and photo-shoot.

The feedback I get from journalists and photographers, plus my research of recent published shots of Nubhan indicate that he has yet learned the art of posing. Do you think it's easy to stand in front of a camera and look good? No.

It takes a lot of practice and sheer experience to be able to pose like Erra Fazira or Ning Baizura. And they had professional help too in their early days. So it was time to call in the professionals to help Nubhan.

Not many people know that professional male model Mazin is my cousin. Mazin is also President of the Malaysian Male Models Association and sits on the board of Karyawan.

Me: Nubhan, you cannot get a more professional male model in this country than Mazin. Learn from the master himself.

Nubhan: Yes, abang.

Mazin kindly showed Nubhan how to strike a pose. And then, tiba tiba, suara soprano yang lantang kedengaran dari sudut pintu!

Ning: Why is your hair so messy???

Nubhan: Alamak! Kak Ning!

Ambik kau! Mak Hayam Besar sudah turun padang buat spot check. Boleh?



And the photo-shoot began and Nubhan tried the poses he learned from Mazin.



Meanwhile, in a dark corner of the room, a journalist and an artiste were spotted weaving ketupats...



Nubhan's photo-shoot went well. Thank you Mazin for showing Nubhan how it's done.



Nubhan also got to meet the petite and sweet Siti Sarah who was in the room next door getting ready for her shoot.



The interview and photo-shoot ended around 6.30pm and we rushed over to Masjid Imam Shafie in Taman Maluri, Cheras.

Nubhan Fan Club held a majlis tahlil and bacaan yasin at the mosque to offer prayers for two members of the club who had passed away recently; Athira Kamalia and Aina Nabila. One died of cancer and the other of an accident. The club also sedekah (donated) 200 copies of the buku surah yassin to the mosque.

The tahlil was led by YBhg. Datuk Khalid Yunus, the patron of Nubhan FC.





After the prayers, a light meal was served in the hall next door. Just rice with sambal sotong, ikan goreng and stir fried sayur kobis. Followed by bananas and sliced papaya. Frugal yet hearty.





President, Member, Treasurer, Vice-President.



Whilst Nubhan was being interviewed, I observed that the boy was exercising the tips I taught him on how to handle questions and answers and how to engage body language to draw the person you're conversing with into your world. Good. The boy is learning.



Group piccies with the jemaah.



Nubhan with members of his fan club.



After the tahlil and meal, we rushed over to the studio in Damansara where Nubhan's colleagues were already waiting for him to record their group Raya song.



After three hours, the song was completed. And at 2am in the morning, Nubhan received a gift from an anonymous friend. An Ipod. A useful gift for someone in his line of work.

Me: Dik, jom balik. You've been up since 6am yesterday morning and you have to be up again at 7am. That's hardly 5 hours of sleep before you have to be up again. And then another long day ahead.

Nubhan: Takpe 'bang. Nubhan ok je.

Gentle reader, the young have so much energy. And at 41, I'm not doing too badly keeping up too.

How did I celebrate my birthday? Quietly at a mosque watching prayers ascend to heaven. No Brazilian strippers, no loud music, no lavish feast, not even a birthday cake. Just the serenity of prayer.

Pic taken by Mamapip Cutiepie last night at the tahlil.

Thank you LORD for all Your blessings. Bless my family and friends who love me dearly.

Thank you all for your love. And Nikki, I love you dearly too. Thank you for posting that beautiful message below. It made me cry.

Happy 41st birthday, me.