My Birthday Wish List

Hahahaaaa....the time has come!Masanya akan tiba....I'm gonna be 24 on the 2nd of June.Kan syiok kalau dapat:

1.Lego Technics(wah best nye!)
2.Digital Multimeter yang branded sikit
3.A house full of Baskin Robbin's and share it all with my family and friends!
4.Lots of scrumtuous(correct ah?) food.
5.More tools!(Bosch or Makita tanak sponsor ke?)
6.More comics
7.More books on AV,DIY,basic electronics and robotics(I seriously need to beef up my basic electronics)
8.More figurines!
9.More TOYS for big boys(ie Hot Imports,Exotic rides etc etc)
10.Engines block!hahahahaaaa
11..........dan banyak lagi!

Actually come to think of it a simple "Happy Birthday Shafik" will do!hahaa

My word

Yes I am a male and yes I am straight.I did a sex id test and I'm 50% female?Oooooohs makes me wonder

Probably it's because....naaaahhhh I dunno

Gearhead

Fuh finally my PC.Done with the bills and stuff associated!Just another manic Monday.The house is in a dire shape due to the extension being done at the backyard.Friends are quite quiet these days,as for me busy running around with the Dad's business at stake(He is off on holidays).Yesterday the uncle's car kinda broke down.Kinda.The automatic gear got stuck in reverse!I went YES!A car to ticker with(Fortunately I managed to get it done right and it's moving forward again!It parks and it "neutral"izes.Haha)Apparently a part connecting the shifts to a rod and connecting it to the gear box went MIA!A minor modification done by mua with the help of my cousin of course we managed to get things done again!Yippie...my jeans were soaked so is my tee.I had it done on the road after rain.Luckily it was in a new neighbourhood!Goodness gracious,why on earth does Volvo have to come up with starlike shaped screws?!Can't they use normal phillips or flatheads?HHHmmmmppphhh...Not to mention the insulations?Nevertheless it makes the ride more quiet unlike the local makes(but it is more easier to tinker with!)....God I'm hungry now that I've fed my cats.So till next time...Smile people smile!

Skywalker

19th May 2005

Finally all the lingering Q's surrounding and clouding my mind has been answered.Star Wars Episode 3:Revenge Of The Sith hits our shores.Enjoyed it I have!A must see it is!A smooth transition towards the sequals it is.

What is so special for me is that Star Wars goes beyond the ordinary.It connects a generations of fans.My parents,my uncles and aunts,cousins,my lovely girlfriend,friends all fans alike have our share and moments regarding Star Wars.Nothing beats having to share these special Star Wars moments with those close to you.And don't forget those childhood memories as well!

For this thank you Mr George Lucas and the whole crew I must!

Those who haven't watch Star Wars give it a GO!Take along the whole crew as well.Enjoy and MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU

time off?

When a girl needs a time off, usually what she mean is – I’m going to leave you soon. This is the grace period where you can learn to live without me. So when I leave you, you won’t take it hard and jump out of the bridge or something similarly stupid. - geek for hire.I still have the card : ) -

Having similarly sucked into the same situation,I felt like writing my two 2 cents worth.It ain't a beautiful sight.It just brings back vivid bad memories that overshadows the good ones.Nevertheless,one can always ponder on the mistakes and better themselves and I did!Alhamdulillah

I've seen people change drastically in these situations.A clear speciment a friend of mine was so wrecked he turned from a non smoking chap to a fire breathing dragon-literally,a non-alcoholic to a full time boozer and wheat,grass(and many other names!)?what is even more ironic is this dude is quite involve a 3rd party situation-ya know what i mean,talk about "a small world"?I just hope he doesn't sleep around!A sleeparounder+Any curious girl is a no-no...gulp

Most of the times,whan a relationship has ended friendship are broken as well(I'm kinda imagining a chain being snapped!).Most of the time there are people taking sides.The girls chain of friends might not acknowledge the ex-bf since they aren't together no more and vice-versa.As for me I still maintain quite a handful of friends that I've met through my ex because for me they are simply my friends as well.No need to break the chain.I've always said to my pals don't hate her and such its just not fated,not meant to be.Its God will.I don't feel at all the sense of betrayal if they happen to get in touch with her be it by phone,mail and etc.No such thing as kawan kau and kawan aku...grow up

Having a failed 6 years of relationship sure teaches me a lot.I've met a beautiful person with a big warm heart now.I don't expect things to be smooth sailing either but if there are any problem regarding the relationship.I've learned to really talk,to really listen and not just assume things are ok just because everything seems to be ok.I'm a changed person now.

So people,don't drown youself in tears and sorrow.Channel the hate,anger,the feeling to avenge,or to revenge into positive things.Yes.it's okay to feel bad for say 2-3 day (some may even take weeks or months.But enough is enough!) but don't let it drain your positive energy.Question yourself,What am I doing?Is feeling this miserable worth it?Is he/she worth all this misery?.Suck all the negativity and channel them positively.Ponder.Only then you will learn.Don't blame him or her blatantly on the failed relationship.Remember,it takes 2 to tango.Learn to accept mistakes both on your part and the other.You will feel good.InsyaAllah.That I can assure you.Till next time adieu

P/S: Jumy thank you for the enlightning.You must be severely bored with my Q's! : P

P/SS:What does PS stand for?hhmmphh...

shit happens...and it did

oh what a day!first and foremost some bastard stole my sneakers and my freakin' boots!talk about a very bad way to start off the day.RIP my dears,for you have serve me well,very well indeed.lots of fond memories "SOBS" "SOBS" : ( .we've been through hard times and good times.i bid farewell,adieu.anyway,i actually snapped this morning.i snapped BIG TIME!no worries,no one got hurt.its been a while since i last snapped.i was freakin pissed.i was more hurt when i saw my sis crying over her lost sneakers later in the evening.after my short burst of emotion and anger i went off to KJ.went out for lunch with jumy,he belanjad me lunch and i got 5 pack of 12V batteries.i have no idea on what to do with them right now,but i'll figure out something!hehehee.i'm currently doing lots of reading and research on home electronics project and stuff.a bit of robotics as well.the thing is money is an issue!i'll figure out a way.i know i can.haaaaa.....aight till next time.cheers

LONG LIVE THE GEEKS!

Source of the article - www.craiglist.org and
readapted from http://bibimisbah.blogspot.com
cut and pasted from friendster's bulletin board.thanks to izana shakira

In the wide world of dating, there are many options.
Do you go for the flashy guy with the smooth
smile, or the dude in the corner typing away on his
laptop? The following are reasons why I think my
fellow females should pay more attention to the
quiet geeks and nerds, and less attention to the
flashy boys.

1) While geeks and nerds may be awkward,
they're well-meaning 9 out of 10 times. That
smooth dude with the sly grin and the spider
hands? Wonder what HIS intentions are... plus,
I've never had a geek guy not call me when he said
he would. Score major points THERE.

2) They're useful. In this tech-savvy world, its great
to have a bf who can make your laptop, desktop,
and just about anything else that plugs into a wall
behave itself.

3) They're more romantic than theyre given credit
for. Okay true, their idea of romance might be to
make up a spiffy web-page with all the reasons
why they love you, with links to pics of you and
sonnets and such...but hey.

4) Due to their neglected status, there are plenty
to choose from. You like em tall and slender?
There are plenty of geeks/nerds who are. You
like em smaller with more meat on their bones?
Got that too.

5) They've got brains. Come on now, how can
intelligence be a bad thing?

6) Most are quite good at remembering dates. Like
birthdays and such, especially if they know itll
make you happy. Due again to their neglected
status, they're more attentive than guys who have
more options. Plus, with all that down time
without a steady gf, they'll likely have mental lists
of all the things they'd love to do once they GOT a
gf.

7) Sex. Yep. Sex. I'm not really familiar with this
myself, but I've friends whove been intimate with
geek guys and it raves all around. They say a
virgin wrote the Kama Sutra... all that time thinking
about sex, imagining sex, dreaming about sex,
(they are male after all) coupled with a desire to
make you happy? Use your imagination.

8) They're relatively low maintenance. Most can be
fueled on pizza, Twinkies and Mt Dew. No
complicated dinners needed here, so if you're not
the best cook, eh. Can you order a pizza?

9) Most frequent bars as often as slugs frequent
salt mines. You wont have to worry much about
your geek guy getting his groove on with club
hotties because, frankly, hell be too busy rooting
around under his computer wondering where that
spare cable went. You wont have to worry about
him flirting with other women because, 9 out of 10
times, hell zip right by them in a perfect B-line
towards the nearest electronics store. I've seen
this happen. Me: Eww. Victoria Secrets Models...
Theyre so skinny. How is that feminine? You can
see her ribs! Geek Guy: Ooooooo... Me: Hey!
*notices he is staring lustfully towards the
computer store* Geek Guy: What? Me: Never
mind...

10) Although he may not want to go to every outing
with you, you can arrange swaps, as in, youll go
to his Gamer Con dressed as an elf princess if
hell take you to the ballet. Plus, if he doesn't want
to go someplace with you, you won't have to worry
much about what hes up to. Youll probably come
home to find him asleep on his keyboard in a sea
of Mt Dew cans with code blinking from the
screen. Its okay. He's used to this. Just toss a
blanket over him and turn out the light.

11) His friends arent jerks. I can't stress this
enough. You'll more likely get OMG! A GIRL!! Can
I see?! than Hey hot stuff! Back that ass up here
and let me get some grub on... They're awkward
geeks too and will, 9 times out of 10, treat you
with the utmost respect and, more than likely, a
note of awe. A cute girl picked one of their clan to
date? It could happen to them! Hope! Drag some of
your single girlfriends over, open up a pack of Mt
Dew, crack open the DnD set and get working. .

12) They're rarely if ever possessive. They trust
you, so you can be yourself around them. You like
to walk around the house in a ratty t-shirt for
comfort? He won't care. He does too! They wont
get pissy if you dont wear make-up or dont want
to bother primping your hair. If you gain a few
pounds, they wont try their best to make you feel
like crap.

13) They're usually very well educated. Physics
majors and the like. See #5. You wont have to
listen to him blathering on about his car (okay
maybe a little), hell have loads of other interesting
things to talk about. Politics, world events, how
much the chicken burgers down at the local place
rock, so long as you douse them in hot sauce...

14) You'll almost never have to hear, Yaw dawg
whazzap!! plop out of their mouths. Unless its in
jest. They spell properly, use correct punctuation,
and are able to tell the difference between the toilet
and the floor. They almost never get wasted, so
you won't have to worry about coming home to find
him and his friends passed out on the floor amidst
a pile of beer bottles. Mt Dew cans, perhaps...

15) And the final reason why geeks and nerds
make great boyfriends: They actually give a damn
about you. Not how you look (though thats a
plus), not how skinny you are, not how much
make-up you primp yourself up with, but they like
you for you. That kind of thing lasts longer
than DAMN baby you got a fine ass!!! Believe me.

Final words,there is Geekiness in everyone.MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!May 19th 2005

my word

haaaa...its a very relax night actually,although truth to be told my room is a mess,i'm kinda moving out due to a massive house renovation taking place next week.i spent close to an hour and a half browsing to the world wide web and i had spent some time on the friendster popular search as well.i decided to clicl upon some of the popular searches which include things like coli,ku ramas,perempuan and stuff(you'll guys basically got the picture right?).i did however stmble across some things which are quite "fascinating".a blog of a maknyah,some kinda gayish kid and some more of the kind.quite fascinating actually,not the crappy porno story stuff,i don't even bother reading them...these blogs are well linked and the hits are quite high.way way higher than mine for sure.quite a community and a very different facet of life!i went like wow!i know these things do exist but wow!i just don't know how to express my feelings.i know what haram is haram,and Gods word are truly not debatable. looking back at things it just freaks me out!the current human state just...ARGGHHH takutnya.i'm afraid of D-day.i'm afraid that i won't be ready on the day God decided to pull the plug.nauzubillah.truly not an angel myself but thankfully i still have the sense of being afraid.otherwise...

yawn

darn i'm bored stiff!where on earth are the aliens?not in the mood for blogging tonight.oh!i received a bad news from my sis,my pal shafreman was robbed in malaga,spain!peeps be careful,next time you're in spain!

chiow

one of my fav song

Stairway To Heaven

by Led Zeppelin



There's a lady who's sure
All that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows
If the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh ooh and she's buying a stairway to heaven.
There's a sign on the wall
But she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook
There's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
There's a feeling I get
When I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen
Rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who standing looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.
And it's whispered that soon, If we all call the tune
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn
For those who stand long
And the forests will echo with laughter.
If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, Don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by
But in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.
Your head is humming and it won't go
In case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow,
And did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How ev'rything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.

pals

its a hot night 30 degrees @#$%@!
here i am in front of my pc.i'm wearing my sister's cekak!i wanted to tie my hair but since my grandma despises guys tying up their hair so i refrain from doing so(well maybe for tonight!)before i continue blabbering and writing with no sense of direction i would like to say "GOOD LUCK AYIEN!" and i'll be praying for your success as well my dear!last night i decided to create a new post but suddenly the flow of my chi is disrupted so adieu.shafreman fondly known as palam was the latest addition to the everexpanding family of www.smsaholics.com.i missed that old fella.a very caring chap that always stay true to his roots.never forgets his roots and friends.he sure is big and he has got an even bigger heart!i missed that guy.i once remember that my former teachers deemed him not as a big achiever(from my point of view.they probably do that so that the students work hard i guess?).he was one of the first person that bought out batch t-shirt!currently he is working in dublin,ireland....cool huh?i just like yapping about my friends doing well because i see them as inspiration for me to do well myself!oh my girlfriend irina is somewhere in the plane.on her way to the holy city of MECCA.moga-moga dapat umrah yang mabrur.Amin....missed her already.

This evening i met Elly Jane.Elina Jadi.she lives just a stone throw away but like 8 tahun tak jumpa(the expression of long time not seeing each other not necessarily 8 years!).one of my pals with a unique character.i just feel honoured actually having known such a character.very bubbly,honest and straight no nonsense s@#t type of person.fascinating!?wished can chat longer but i gotta run elsewhere...and thanks a bunch for the pulled tea!....teh tarik laaa...got it?cool la minah nih.thanks again mate!

Hhhhmmmphhh age is like kinda catchin up.considering i'm just like 24 but still strugglin; with the subject of continuing my degree...sometimes i do feel sorry for both my parents but i guess i just gotta look at the bright side of things?!i learned a lot while working in the construction site.ya as the machai,buruh kasar.the lowest part of the chain.but looking back i guess the indons,myanmars and banglas etc....etc worked way harder for a meagre salary.God!they're a very strong bunch!i respect that.there weren't to many malays though.apsal hah?i also learned a lot while working in klang.i did air conditioning maintenance.tiring but very fruitful.and still i haven't been paid.that dude promised me by next week!i hope i'll get my money.so i can get myself a new multimeter!(anyone willing to bagi free?)and while i was in klang i met some very interesting character particularly in the psychiatric ward!well i was a bit dark and gloomy in the mortuary....fuhhh.i'll share that experience as well.perhaps later lah!so till next time.i bit adieu and thanks for reading!

sweet slumber

i draw inspirations from basically anything and everything.man,animal,nature,people,human,kids,etc etc.apart from my inspiring parents and family members...here goes

i've just read my beloved friend's blog senor jumy(feel free to click on his link!)i just felt so honoured with his words and thoughts.my dear friend jumy is byfar the geekiest of them all.he might look not so expressive up front but inside he sure hell is!just have a go at his blog and you'll see why!i always regard him as one of the best(if not the best!)pc whizz around.i'm very VERY sure there are a whole lot out there that seconds me!i once sat next to him in this hacking competition and just looking at him make sense to what i see as senseless just amzes me.actually not just him,all the hackers in that room.i was a sight to behold!i don't know i just have these appreciation for any knowledge.be it maths,science,law,physics,relegion and stuff.you can see that all these are somehow connected and intertwine with each other!ah back to jumy i just want to tell people that i just feel so proud to know and to grow up with him back in SMSAH.sure was quite an evolution.dude you're darn cool!

then there is my mathemathical friend.very passionate mathematician out to prove everything in LOGIC!yup you heard me right,in logic.numbers?!her name is rafiqa hazura.fondly known as makcik back then.the gurls call her along!full of smiles.the sort of person that her happiness shines through.ahaks!her parent sponsored jumy and i to genting!nice!hihiiiiii...thank you.i love it when she explains math!numbers they do make sense.she did try to explain to me and jumy once that the table we were having our drinks on are made up of integrations!oh yes she did!

then there is razman.my bestest pal.i'll put it this way.our friendship is like an old tree you know like the ones looking gloomy and all,not much leaves on it but huge and its got a very big and strong root stuck into the ground(i kinda borrowed this remaks from my beloved girlfriend irina hariati)!oh don't forget the wolves howling in the background,a bit of crows and bats!hahahaaaaa

ah-ha then there is peah!beloved big papa pimp nadrul shaqman.fondly known as peah.we've been classmates from std 1 till std 6!he has been big all the time.even bigger now!haha.i do think he is a very cool calm and composed character!best.he teaches me bass.cool huh!i started playing guitar at 22 and after a brief intro to vic wooten....ok bass here i come.and i did!one of my memorable moment with him is that when the both of him embark on a journey towards BASSISM!actually we both restored some old bass'.i turned out great!currently mr nad here is enjoying gigging around with his SX bass.i just love to see them play!i post an article on that."let's jam!"

actually i have tonnes of insiring people,in fact jack from JMS(our regular hang out spot!jack's the waiter)even inspires me...i think i might jot about them.later later la perhaps!heheeee

finally,saving the best for last there's this one sweet gal,her name is irina(hai sayang!hihihhiii)!she is my beloved girlfriend od course.a rare find!a nearly extinct type of modern contemporary rock poppop etnic whatever girl.a graphic designer but i see her as an artist.just waiting to be unveil to the world.my primary school crush!talk about the odds huh?20-1?99-1?she was my gf then.along the way she was not but somehow fate brought us back together after 6 years of my "sabbatical" which happen to taught me a lot and give me a deep sense of appreciation.why is irina so special to me?well she lets me get in touch with my imaginations and that why!there is no such thing as a wacky idea.though she can be wildly imaginative at time(that can be VERY VERY BAD or veyvery beautiful!).i learned to appreciate art,see beauty in a different manner,ugliness can also be a thing of beauty and so is beauty can always be a thing of ugliness!rediscovering that inner childish voice and imagination all thanks to her!(jumy as well!hihiiii)....i just enjoy that.though sometimes things can be a bit rough hey i'd rather not have a smoooothhhhh sailing relationship!how on earth is one gonna learn aight?!

so these are some af my inspiring characters!there are more!friends and foes alike!even my late cat inspires me!nuts?well maybe i am and well maybe i'm not.its up to others to decide!muaaaahhhhsssss.....thanks for ur time.cheeersss mate =)

Oh!before i buzz off no offense there are more of my friends and character that inspires me!my so to be doctor friend ayien(elessar!),reza,jatt,zairi(most of them are studying abroad!)i look up upon them to my path of success,my late grandpa,my former schools mates like UDEAN!then there is fisha.even nisterroOy too..i miss u guys and our schooldays and AVA days!haahhaaaa...and lots more.i wish i can just write about them.my former lecturers,former teachers...i just wanna say you guys are my hero!

bantingan

also memanjat


my new pal.his name is Rosmaini.actually last night(22/4/05) we went around technology park and the area around it.putting down banners.all over folks but i took that picture on the same day were putting up banners

climbing

memanjat


that's me climbing the street post at putrajaya.my part time job!cool huh?pays abaut rm50 and rm 20 for gas and tolls.so about rm70 per session.

tonight i'm putting up banners

tonight i'm putting up banners

tonight i'm putting up banners all around putrajaya and maybe kl as well.what can i say,i'm desperate for cash!why?someone kinda ripped me off.i had months of unpaid salary.at first i was saddened by the fact but now i'm ok.rezeki comes from the Almighty.if these person don't pay up well...i'll just let God handle them.and my share of the loot.HARAM till the end of time!i was gonna treat my family and friends with my money.and that really pisses me off!muaahhh people

darn

darn

it has been almost 2 weeks now.my dad can't sell his diesel(he runs a gas station).all 27,000 litres of em.some "nice people" from the trade ministry considered my dad selling subsidied diesel illegally,illegitimately(whatever?!) when it was their fault of not informing dealers and briefing them on the legitimate transaction.why oh why?we've been selling diesel to operators,contractors and such in drums only when they produce the necessary papers(which we did!).these fellas just walk in and said that we had perform an illegal op(on a very busy monday).my dad made a few phone calls to other dealers but no one had even heard about the so called yellow letters claimed by these officers.and the paper produced by the customer was invalid.it was not even yellow,that's for sure.so for the past week my dad has been going up and down the ministry officeS!without any clue on when he can resume selling his stock of diesel.furthermore there was no word from the ministry on the company that regularly buys our diesel in drums.hhmmpshhhh which just makes me wonder?

read on

copied and pasted from jumy's blog(just in case you missed jumy's link)

David DeAngelo wrote this - I just posted it for some unknown reason

WHEN A WOMAN SAYS…
“I want a guy who is sensitive.”

WHAT SHE REALLY MEANS IS…
“I want a guy who is busy doing his own thing in life, who has goals and objectives… who has passion for things. If we’re out together, he always keeps me on my toes, and I’m always wondering what’s going to happen next. He’s challenging, interesting, and funny. I would really like it if he was also sensitive enough to know when I need a hug, or to be held, or when I want him to make love to me.” Does this make sense?

Again, she’s not imagining a picture of a boring, predictable, Wussy who is sharing his hurt feelings because he’s so “sensitive". Big difference.

WHEN A WOMAN SAYS…
“I want a guy who is in touch with his feelings.”

WHAT SHE REALLY MEANS IS…
“I want a guy who is strong-willed, and who doesn’t get upset about petty things… a guy who can deal with the fact that I freak out emotionally sometimes… and who knows how to be cool when things are tough. But I also want him to be in touch with his feelings so that:
1) He doesn’t repress his emotions and then eventually kill 10 people in his workplace, and
2) When he’s intimate with me, and he feels a passionate rush… he’ll grab me and make love to me like a beast!”

What she’s NOT doing is making a picture of a meek, afraid guy who calls all the time to ask “Do you like me? Because I sure like you".

WHEN A WOMAN SAYS:
“I want a guy who’s a good communicator.”

WHAT SHE REALLY MEANS IS…
“I want a guy who doesn’t talk all the time, because he knows how to let me know what’s on his mind without using words. I want the kind of guy that can touch me in a certain way and I feel tingles all over my body. And I want the kind of guy that can say things in a way that I understand… not crudely and man-like.”

thank you dude!

a night at NZ

last night i went to NZ at wangsa maju.jumy picked me up from his office.poor chap,he got a minor fever.i drove his car,luckily i can still drive stick shift!hahaa.so the both of us met adam,reza and reza's pal called "cipek".weird huh?so no other topic.just the same old school stuff!we just laughed and we had a good time!

"honest" people

caution my friends

i did my time.working with "honest" people sure was a real bummer!i don't mind being treated "nice" if i didn't work my socks off.eventually i did.so what did i get?sweet promises of being paid."of course they will pay you"and "on time too".so people if some guy want you to work in a company just check their background esp their financial status.i just hope these "nice people will be loved by the Almighty"....trully i do

SEPET'S Review!

New Straits Times
LIFE & TIMES
Monday, JUNE 14, 2004

You only need to spend a few minutes talking to Yasmin Ahmad to be caught up by her joie de vivre. She is funny in the way that only Johoreans from Muar can be her lover for and fascination with people are infectious.

You know she's a people's person when, on your first meeting, she candidly shares some pretty personal details about herself-she was a runaway bride three times before finding matrimonial bliss with her very Ah Pek (in her own words) husband.

And you see it through her works: yep, the Petronas TV commercials that we so love.

If you've seen enough of those festive season ads over the years, you'd know what a marvellous storyteller Yasmin, an executive creative director at Leo Burnett Advertising, is. Every story-be it a happy one, funny or heartrending-goes straight to your heart. It's this knack for drawing us into her little world that makes us eagerly await her next piece of work.

And so when film industry folk began talking about her directional debut, Rabun , months before it was aired over TV3's Cerekarama slot last year, you knew it was going to be one of the high points of an otherwise lacklustre film climate.

Rabun is a sweet, unconventional love story revolving around an elderly couple, Pak Atan (played by M.Rajoli) and Mak Inom (Kartina Aziz). They are the antithesis of the typical Malay couple of a certain age who, in the twilight years of theirs lives, remain completely devoted to each other and are not ashamed to show it.

Why, one of the scenes even has the couple bathing together (with their sarongs on, of course......) and lovingly scrubbing each other's back, which, unsurprisingly caused the Film Censorship Board to jump!

The film, says Yasmin, came about after her father collapsed from diabetic complications in 2002. "I never had any grand ambitions to make movies. But I had been meaning to make a film about parents.

"I have these 'crazy' stories about my parents. They're very unique people. So when my father collapsed, I thought, "Goodness, I'd better make a film for them to watch before anything happens."

This little homage to her parents, which was produced by Rosnah Kassim under MHz Film Sdn Bhd and made a budget of RM80,000 from Grand Brilliance Sdn Bhd, has gone places.

It has done the international festival rounds including the 5th Cinemaya Festival of Asian Cinema (India), the 21st Torino Film Festival (Italy) and the 16th Singapore International Film Festival.

Incidentally, the film won the Gold award for Best Asean Film (above 60 minutes) at the 8th Malaysian Video Awards last year.

"After Cinemaya, somebody from the San Francisco Film Festival asked to see Rabun. He saw it and liked it and sent it to Italy.

"There I was thinking they must be vomiting all over the place over my silly little film when I got a call telling me Rabun had been officially selected for screening at Torino. Then a month later, I was told it was being considered for competition!"

Out of about 3,000 films from around the world, 150 were shortlisted for screening. And out of the 150, only 11 were selected for competition. Well, guess what? That "silly little film" was one of them.

Rabun didn't win any of the top three prizes but the fact that it made it that far was pretty incredible," says Yasmin.

"If it had won I would have been deeply embarrassed. If you saw the top three films you'd understand why".

One of the things she learnt from attending those festivals and meeting filmmakers from different parts of the world was that "they're not interested in complaining or restrictions or budget limitations. They just want to talk about ideas with you, which was wonderful.

"It was such a nice change because over here whenever I talk to fellow filmakers, they're always complaining about budgets, how the government is not helping and how strict the Censorship Board is."

"So I told my friends here 'Lets stop complaining, let's just make films. There's a whole bunch of us.......me, Yuhang, James(Lee), Amir(Muhammad), Osman Ali. We just want to make films."

But not the kind with Erra Fazira in them, says Yasmin.

She quickly points out: " There are already people making those films and some of them are quite fun to watch. But we don't want to make those kinds of films. We want to make films about our own lives.

She quotes a Spanish filmmaker who says a nation is nothing without the story it tells about itself.

"(Datuk ) Lat does it through his cartoons and I try to do it in Petronas commercials. But we don't really have films that tell stories about ourselves. Our films tell stories of middle-class fantasies."

She adds that there's nothing wrong with that. It's just that she doesn't want to go there. "I want to make films about lower to middle-class realities. I'm not interested in making films about the upper class because I think they lead such boring lives.

"James is telling stories about the Chinese community and that's just wonderful. And Amir.......well, Amir is very courageous. He's telling stories about political upheavals and stuff like that."

For now Yasmin just wants to tell stories about her parents. She believes everybody has a story to tell. Yeah, but not everybody has such fascinating stories or colourful characters in their lives.

"Sure they do," she insists and proceeds to ask me a naughty question to drive home her point." See? I bet you could make a whole movie on THAT!" she laughs, having rendered me speechless.

Following the encouraging response to Rabun, Yasmin soon got started on her second feature, Sepet. This time round Yasmin and Rosnah forked out their own money, with a little help from FINAS (National Film Development Corporation).

" Sepet is not as autobiographical as Rabun. It's a mixture of different segments of my life."

She's not done with Pak Atan and Mak Inom yet but this time the focus is on their daughter Orked. The two movies are in no way related, says Yasmin.

Sepet takes a look at an interracial relationship. But not the kind we've been fed with, she explains.

"Whenever I watch a Malay film about people of different races in a relationship, there always seems to be a problem. Because I've only been exposed to such films I thought this must be a common problem."

That's why she thinks her story - based on her personal experience, naturally -is one that's worth telling. "I had Chinese and Indian boyfriends. My parents never had problems with them and their parents never seemed to have problems with me."

Before the shot the film, some of her friends who read the script had asked, 'Where's the problem? Where's the crisis? For the dramatic effect, you know.....'

"But that's not what Sepet is about. If my family had a problem with interracial relationships, then this would not be an interesting story to tell because every movie about interracial relationships has a crisis.

Yasmin has had private screenings of Sepet and so far response has been encouraging. And why not? She's assembled a team of talented actors, from established names and fairly new faces to complete unknowns.

Harith Iskander and Ida Nerina give delicious portrayals of (the younger )Pak Atan and Mak Inom while Sharifah Amani Syed Zainal Rashid Al -Yahya, in her first lead role, gives splendid performance of Orked.

Then there is that fantastic singer Adibah Noor, who is fast making name as an actress, playing the family's lovable servant Kak Yam.

and Orked's boyfriend is played by art director Choo Seong (Yasmin's colleague), who has never acted in his life. Theatre veteran Thor Kah Hoong plays his wheelchair-bound, verbally abusive father and newcomer Tan Mei ling is his long - suffering wife.

Shoit entirely in Ipoh, Perak, Sepet is one of the few local productions that can truly be called a Malaysian film.

Next up is Gubra, says Yasmin, who's in the midst of completing the script. It tells of the emotional roller - coaster ride her family went through the morning her father collapsed.

Going by the respect and admiration she's getting from industry folk -mainstream or otherwise the Woody Allen of Malaysia may happen sooner that she thinks.

"whenever he makes a film he can get big stars to act in if for almost nothing just because they want to be in it. I know I'm being a bit ambitious but wouldn't it be wonderful to be in that position?"

Well, for Sepet, Harith and Ida practically offered themselves for free just to be in a Yasmin Ahmad film. Who knows, when she's done with making all those Metrowealth movies, Erra Fazira may just come a knocking on her door?