AS I write this, it is that time of year again when we all indulge in a bit of day dreaming, wistful thinking, not to mention hoping and wishing. Yes indeed, it is that silly season when we fantasise about our own very special white Christmas, of silver-tinselled pressies and brightly bundled-up New Year souvenirs. But for me, there is no greater gift to accept and give than that of friendship. And it is this acknowledgement which I wish to convey to each and every one of you, readers and friends, with sincere and heartfelt greetings for 2010. You know how it is often said that all good things in life come in threes. In my case that is certainly true. While the three women I mention are my BFFs of the best kind, they are also my sister, my daughter and my pet. Rosie, Afzan and Angel.

My two other BFFs are special in so many ways, but the most special of all is that they share my name. Among our close friends we are known as The Three Noras – N1 (that would be me), N2 (Nora Dom) and N3 (Nora Muhamad). How lucky can a girl get when three of Malaysia’s “leading men” are also among her BFFs? Yes, indeed I am that girl, and I am referring to my three Dato’s – Dato’ Zahim Albakri, Dato’ Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar and Dato’ Laksamana Hang Tuah Stephen Rahman- Hughes. No, that’s not all. I also have three “fairy god sisters” whose real names I am not (yet) at liberty to mention although they know who they are, and for the purposes of this piece, they shall be called Shamsiah, Fazlita, and Mariam.

To have one’s sister as one’s best friend is both a blessing and a curse. You see, when we can’t agree on something or have an argument, I can’t go to Kak Gi (my sister’s nickname), my kakak, to complain about Rosie, my kawan, because they happen to be the same person. Nonetheless, ‘both’ are indeed wonderfully caring women to whom I am much indebted. But the one occasion which still stands out in my mind is when we found out at the very last minute that my then husband Amir was to be awarded a dato’ship and I didn’t have anything appropriate to wear. Kak Gi, in her earnest frenzy to make sure nobody would mock her little sister for being under-dressed the day she became a Datin Seri, insisted that I borrow her brand new baju kebaya even though she herself hadn’t worn it yet. The reason I remember this is because, to date, I haven’t returned the outfi t – and both of us know it, but since she hasn’t said anything, then neither shall I!