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No dieting, no spa treatment, no exercise regimen for Abdullah's wife
Sun, Nov 04, 2007 The Straits Times
PUTRAJAYA - THE wife of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has a number of surprising beauty tips. Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah said that she does not believe in dieting, has no exercise programme, has never had a facial or gone to a spa, and eschews heavy make-up. 'I don't believe in diets when there's such good food to be enjoyed. Just eat in moderation... 'I don't exercise either; we run around so much with our hectic schedules. Just living in Seri Perdana is exercise,' she was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times (NST) yesterday. Seri Perdana is the Prime Minister's sprawling official residence in Putrajaya.

The informal meeting was held on Friday at Seri Perdana.

She married Datuk Seri Abdullah, 68, on June 9.

She said of her favourite breakfast: 'I like bread with lots of butter, and I dunk it in coffee, which I make myself.'

Life as the Premier's wife for the past four months, she said, has not been 'all that bad'.

'I do have a wonderful life now. I am very happy and at ease as I have the support of people behind me, my aides, my children and Pak Lah's children,' NST quoted her as saying.

Datuk Seri Abdullah is widely called Pak Lah.

Datin Seri Jeanne's daughters from a previous marriage are Nadiah, 29, and Nadene, 27, both single.

Datuk Seri Abdullah has two children from his marriage to the late Datin Seri Endon Mahmood. Both Kamaluddin, 40, and Nori, 31, are married.

Datin Seri Jeanne has been close to Datuk Seri Abdullah's family for years and was formerly the household manager of the Seri Perdana residence.

At the tea session, the First Lady gamely answered almost all the questions thrown at her, except for those on Datuk Seri Abdullah's marriage proposal, NST reported.

'That is a private matter I'd like to keep between Pak Lah and myself,' she said, smiling, even though the question was asked twice.

She said that she had adapted to being in the public eye.

'I used to be scared of speaking in front of microphones and TV cameras but I'm getting used to it.'

Asked what she missed most from life before her marriage to the Premier, she said: 'I miss going out for coffee and cake with my daughters. I miss watching TV together and then discussing what we watched, going out to the movies.'

Once, after the marriage, she put on jeans and a shirt and went shopping at Suria KLCC alone. Almost alone.

'I told the bodyguard to walk some distance behind me. I wore jeans and a shirt and tried not to look obvious. I don't think anyone noticed me,' she said.

She avoids talking about politics at home with her husband.

'Having followed him around and watching him give all these speeches, I feel sorry for him and I don't want to worry him further by asking about his work.'