2 seconds

Imagine entering a competition 2 seconds before the event begins. Sounds crazy? It does. And here's what happened.

My family attended the MIM Toastmasters Humorous and Evaluation Speech (HES) competition just to support Ahmad who was competing in both contests. In the end, just before the evaluation speech contest, there was a shortage of contestants and Grace approached me to join; of which i instantly declined as I've never done an evaluation before. Imagine doing your first ever evaluation in an Evaluation Contest itself! So I immediately say: how about my mom? So they were fairly satisfied and got her in. After a few minutes, Chong Beng (one of the contestants) approached ME and asked "Alia, why don't you join?" and again, i justified I have no experience whatsoever but when I looked questioningly at my dad; all he said was "Go for it!" And that's how i ended up signing on the dotted line exactly 2 seconds before the event began.

Listened to the 7 minute speech. It was all thanks to my dad who gave me the guidelines of A B C D: Attention, body, conclusion and Delivery. Thus, I was able to elaborate from there. Got quarantined for 5 minutes to wrap up our notes. And then 15 minutes to wait since there were 5 other contestants since I was the final speaker. After the contest though, I ended up crying. Not because of disappointment- but perhaps due to being overwhelmed. It was all kind of sudden and I couldn't hold it in. But many people came up to me, congratulating and saying that it was such a fantastic evaluation- what more it being my first ever evaluation. All for the experience.

Results: Ahmad won 1st place for Humorous Speech, and 2nd place for Evaluation Contest (he entered for both). And my mom won 3rd place for evaluation speech contest. Oh yes, I am so very proud of both of them:)

For this weekend, we went back to our Auntie's house to visit our grandmother. Nothing much to say except with pictures:)

Safi with his very impressive skills of getting close to kids. He can tame the most shy child - aka Syabila, our youngest cousin. I don't know how he does it. Kids all over just open up to him. As you can see, she is every squirmy when Ahmad tries to approach her. But with safi, she's just natural. She doesn't even allow ME to hold her when Safi tries to give her to me. Of course, Safi's just killing my ego - for the fact that we both know she doesn't want me to hold her.

Eating lunch out. We did not plan it out but it was a coincidence that we were all wearing blue! As well as Ummi and Ayah:)

Am learning to sketch with a pen now. Didn't realize so many things can be drawn with Marina Mandarin Singapore pen. Hotel pens are the best. And when you have a sketch book. I am ever addicted to it (thank you nurun for the sketchbook:D)

My weekend summarized.