You know what? Today I've just been called a stalker. By whom? It was my daughter. She said, in her facebook that was, "Stop stalking me dad, others will be afraid to give comments when they see your name."
Is it true? Am I a stalker?
I thought that is the real reason facebook was invented in the first place - to freely interact with your friends (what more with your own children!).
With all the free time that I have, I just can't help but peek into facebook!
Any comment from avid facebook participants?
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
MY DARLING CHILDREN
My eldest daughter is seriously contemplating of moving to MNLG Bintulu. In fact she has informed her immediate boss of her intention. She has also performed 'sembahyang hajat' to ask Allah's direction and help her in making the right decision and making it easy for her if that is what He want her to do.
Why Bintulu? Well actually MNLG's HQ is in Buntulu. She has fallen in love working there...you know the cost of living is relatively cheap. Well that was what she told me.
My first reaction? Well I don't mind as long as that is what she wants. We can drop by there once in a while if she is there!
What worries me a bit is that she might be forgotten. You know, far from sight far from heart ( a direct translation of a Malay saying that says Jauh di mata jauh di hati).
But that is for others, not with my Diyana. She is too resourceful and active to be forgotten just like that. She has been eyeing for better positions in PETRONAS.
May be she has another reason? Well who knows that she may fall for a Sarawakian one of these days!
We don't mind a bit having a son-in-law from Sarawak or from any other places for that matter as long as he is a Muslim who could lead her to the right path for this world and hereafter.
Like many other parents out there, I still have unfinished responsibilities with my children, my daughters especially, as long as they are still not married.
Finding the right most suitable partner for them is something that I find extremely difficult. I have tried, but it did not work. There was no chemistry between them two, yet.
I will never interfere, but will not leave it as it is without trying.
My second one, is something else. With no diploma or degree to be proud of, he is popular with members of the opposite sex. Then there was that gal from Kuala Selangor. Now she has left him for another. But never mind that, my boy is now serious with an engineer. She was her classmate in SK Bukit Sekilau many many years ago.
He has given up working in KL. He wants to look after his mom knowing that I will not be at home most of the weekdays. He just got himself a job in Impiana Hotel, Cherating. Despite his lack of formal education, he has a very good ability of landing him a job, anytime, any where.
My third one, you know the rugby player, already has someone steady. she was his one-year junior in SMK Gunung Rapat and they are close, very close.
Her parents are also very fond of him. Her mother referred him as a famous TV-star look-alike. Of course, he is a tall, dark and handsome lad that everybody who knows him will like, even toddlers!
Now come Amalia, our youngest. She was made and born in Athens, Georgia, US. Now she is turning 15, tall and fair. Her favourite hobby is to take her own pictures on her hp.
She has grown up into an elegant well-dressed girl choosing the best clothes she could lay her hands to. Many boys try to befriend her. Mind you she has two big brothers watching over her every movement!
Well my friends, that is the story of our children. They brought joy and songs to our home whenever they are around.
They provide escort services whenever they follow me in the car. Nobody will dare to be road bullies as long as they are with me.
THEY ARE AFTER ALL MY DARLING CHILDREN!
Why Bintulu? Well actually MNLG's HQ is in Buntulu. She has fallen in love working there...you know the cost of living is relatively cheap. Well that was what she told me.
My first reaction? Well I don't mind as long as that is what she wants. We can drop by there once in a while if she is there!
What worries me a bit is that she might be forgotten. You know, far from sight far from heart ( a direct translation of a Malay saying that says Jauh di mata jauh di hati).
But that is for others, not with my Diyana. She is too resourceful and active to be forgotten just like that. She has been eyeing for better positions in PETRONAS.
May be she has another reason? Well who knows that she may fall for a Sarawakian one of these days!
We don't mind a bit having a son-in-law from Sarawak or from any other places for that matter as long as he is a Muslim who could lead her to the right path for this world and hereafter.
Like many other parents out there, I still have unfinished responsibilities with my children, my daughters especially, as long as they are still not married.
Finding the right most suitable partner for them is something that I find extremely difficult. I have tried, but it did not work. There was no chemistry between them two, yet.
I will never interfere, but will not leave it as it is without trying.
My second one, is something else. With no diploma or degree to be proud of, he is popular with members of the opposite sex. Then there was that gal from Kuala Selangor. Now she has left him for another. But never mind that, my boy is now serious with an engineer. She was her classmate in SK Bukit Sekilau many many years ago.
He has given up working in KL. He wants to look after his mom knowing that I will not be at home most of the weekdays. He just got himself a job in Impiana Hotel, Cherating. Despite his lack of formal education, he has a very good ability of landing him a job, anytime, any where.
My third one, you know the rugby player, already has someone steady. she was his one-year junior in SMK Gunung Rapat and they are close, very close.
Her parents are also very fond of him. Her mother referred him as a famous TV-star look-alike. Of course, he is a tall, dark and handsome lad that everybody who knows him will like, even toddlers!
Now come Amalia, our youngest. She was made and born in Athens, Georgia, US. Now she is turning 15, tall and fair. Her favourite hobby is to take her own pictures on her hp.
She has grown up into an elegant well-dressed girl choosing the best clothes she could lay her hands to. Many boys try to befriend her. Mind you she has two big brothers watching over her every movement!
Well my friends, that is the story of our children. They brought joy and songs to our home whenever they are around.
They provide escort services whenever they follow me in the car. Nobody will dare to be road bullies as long as they are with me.
THEY ARE AFTER ALL MY DARLING CHILDREN!
Monday, September 27, 2010
TERITIP & LOKAN
Last Saturday, as usual, I went to Binjai Souq looking for something traditional. I was up to my nose with meat, chicken and common commercial fish species like the sardines, Indian mackerel, snapper, garupa, yellow-striped trevally, etc etc
Fish stalls were full of fish, squids and prawns. On the last stall on my left, I saw three plastic bags full of something very familiar.
At first I thought that they were lokan. The minute I touched the bags, the owner explained that they were teritip, not lokan.
For you city folks out there, teritip is a wild version of oyster. They normally grow on rocks in brackish water.
Collecting them is both laborious and risky. Their sharp shells could easily cut your fingers if you were not careful.
But the fruit of your labour is something very good and delicious.
When I was small I used to look for teritip when the Kemaman river was at its lowest tide. At this time the rocks would be easily accessible and out of water. All you had to do then was to pry open the shells with a knife, cleaver or something sharp and hard.
As far as consuming it, unlike farmed oysters, I don't have the gut to eat them raw. I do not know what residue or bacteria they harbour.
Yesterday my wife lightly cooked them mixed with chilly, garlic and soy sauce. They were just wonderful.
Fish stalls were full of fish, squids and prawns. On the last stall on my left, I saw three plastic bags full of something very familiar.
At first I thought that they were lokan. The minute I touched the bags, the owner explained that they were teritip, not lokan.
For you city folks out there, teritip is a wild version of oyster. They normally grow on rocks in brackish water.
Collecting them is both laborious and risky. Their sharp shells could easily cut your fingers if you were not careful.
But the fruit of your labour is something very good and delicious.
When I was small I used to look for teritip when the Kemaman river was at its lowest tide. At this time the rocks would be easily accessible and out of water. All you had to do then was to pry open the shells with a knife, cleaver or something sharp and hard.
As far as consuming it, unlike farmed oysters, I don't have the gut to eat them raw. I do not know what residue or bacteria they harbour.
Yesterday my wife lightly cooked them mixed with chilly, garlic and soy sauce. They were just wonderful.
ONCE CLOSE NOW DISTANT
It is sad to think how we drifted apart with time, or as we grew older. If only Tok Wan (my late grandmother) is till here with us, she would for sure shed tears looking at us.
No, we did not quarrel or get into fights or anything like that. We just silently drifted apart.
We were very close when we were children. We shared between us whatever limited things that we had.
We shared sleeping area (those days houses did not have too many rooms or no room at all). Still remember Mok Su Cikgu (my mom's cousin sister) always reminded us boys and girls to separate our sleeping area when we congregated in Mok Long's house in Kg. Besut.
She was very cautious in as far as girl-boy relationship. Of course nothing ever happened between us. We were too naive and pure for that. Tok Wan, on the other hand, made sure that we cousins did not get married with each other when we grew up.
She was very smart. She made sure that everyone of us was nursed by all of our aunts when we were still babies. By doing that we were all 'milk-siblings' and thus cousin marriage was self-prohibited.
We also shared food between us, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner.
As we grew up, things changed. We lived in our own house. We did not share things much anymore.
Everybody was busy with their own lives. Some of us are luckier than the others in term of economic and social well-being.
So busy are we with worldly things that some of us have not met, let alone talk, for a long time. More so after the passing away of all except one (that is my mother - may Allah bless her always) of our aunts and uncles.
A few of us even go as far as not caring for each other just because she is a the Chairman of JKKK's wife. Her husband always tries his best to show his power and exclude some of us who are qualified to receive aids just because our different political beliefs.
I try my level best to bring us together again, but it is not as easy as saying it.
Oh I really miss those wonderful childhood days!
No, we did not quarrel or get into fights or anything like that. We just silently drifted apart.
We were very close when we were children. We shared between us whatever limited things that we had.
We shared sleeping area (those days houses did not have too many rooms or no room at all). Still remember Mok Su Cikgu (my mom's cousin sister) always reminded us boys and girls to separate our sleeping area when we congregated in Mok Long's house in Kg. Besut.
She was very cautious in as far as girl-boy relationship. Of course nothing ever happened between us. We were too naive and pure for that. Tok Wan, on the other hand, made sure that we cousins did not get married with each other when we grew up.
She was very smart. She made sure that everyone of us was nursed by all of our aunts when we were still babies. By doing that we were all 'milk-siblings' and thus cousin marriage was self-prohibited.
We also shared food between us, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner.
As we grew up, things changed. We lived in our own house. We did not share things much anymore.
Everybody was busy with their own lives. Some of us are luckier than the others in term of economic and social well-being.
So busy are we with worldly things that some of us have not met, let alone talk, for a long time. More so after the passing away of all except one (that is my mother - may Allah bless her always) of our aunts and uncles.
A few of us even go as far as not caring for each other just because she is a the Chairman of JKKK's wife. Her husband always tries his best to show his power and exclude some of us who are qualified to receive aids just because our different political beliefs.
I try my level best to bring us together again, but it is not as easy as saying it.
Oh I really miss those wonderful childhood days!
IT IS WORTH TO BE CALM COME WHAT MAY
I woke up and went straight into the bathroom, had a simpler than usual morning bath and rushed out to catch the morning news.
Quickly I scanned for my blackberry, on the table next to the fan, on the make-up table and on the small table where I put the Quran.
It was not there. I was sure I had seen it that morning just before I went into the bathroom.
I tried retrace my movement. Then it clicked on me. The bed was the place that I put the blackberry.
My heart began to race as I noticed that the bed sheet had been removed.
I quickly yelled at my wife downstairs: "Ma, seen my hp? May be it was in the bed sheet!"
I scurried downstairs and there it was, my wife holding it in her hand.
"Sorry. It was in the bed sheet in the washing machine."
Syafiq switched it on, but there was nothing coming on the screen. It had been in the water for quite some time. It was soaked wet.
I controlled my temper, as best as I could. Inside I was in rage. I just could not accept such careless mistake.
I kept quiet all throughout the incidence. My wife was quiet too. Syafiq looked at me and then at his mom. He knew that I was angry, very angry.
I was angry for I knew I had lost so many important info in the hp. Syafiq then noticed that I did not save all the info into my SIM card.
I removed the battery and let it stayed like that. My wife placed it in front of the fan hoping that it would dry up and work as before.
I sent Syafiq to a hp service store in town for a check-up. They said that it was spoiled beyond economic repair and even suggested that I should better buy a new one.
A few hours later, as I was watching television, I heard that familiar sound. It was my hp's familiar sms-coming-in sound.
I looked at my wife's face. She was smiling. Syafiq quickly claimed that it was him who had repaired the hp.
The blackberry was all right!
Quickly I scanned for my blackberry, on the table next to the fan, on the make-up table and on the small table where I put the Quran.
It was not there. I was sure I had seen it that morning just before I went into the bathroom.
I tried retrace my movement. Then it clicked on me. The bed was the place that I put the blackberry.
My heart began to race as I noticed that the bed sheet had been removed.
I quickly yelled at my wife downstairs: "Ma, seen my hp? May be it was in the bed sheet!"
I scurried downstairs and there it was, my wife holding it in her hand.
"Sorry. It was in the bed sheet in the washing machine."
Syafiq switched it on, but there was nothing coming on the screen. It had been in the water for quite some time. It was soaked wet.
I controlled my temper, as best as I could. Inside I was in rage. I just could not accept such careless mistake.
I kept quiet all throughout the incidence. My wife was quiet too. Syafiq looked at me and then at his mom. He knew that I was angry, very angry.
I was angry for I knew I had lost so many important info in the hp. Syafiq then noticed that I did not save all the info into my SIM card.
I removed the battery and let it stayed like that. My wife placed it in front of the fan hoping that it would dry up and work as before.
I sent Syafiq to a hp service store in town for a check-up. They said that it was spoiled beyond economic repair and even suggested that I should better buy a new one.
A few hours later, as I was watching television, I heard that familiar sound. It was my hp's familiar sms-coming-in sound.
I looked at my wife's face. She was smiling. Syafiq quickly claimed that it was him who had repaired the hp.
The blackberry was all right!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
GREEN MONSTERS AMONG US
Jealousy is a negative trait most probably possessed only by us human beings. I am pretty sure that animals do not have this trait.
Is jealousy a good thing?
Well, they say a little of jealousy brings good to our lives. We do need a little controlled jealousy to survive and be happy in this world.
A little controlled jealousy makes us all wary about things. Take a husband and wife relationship, for instance. Both should have a little of jealousy with one another. Do not just accept everything that is said by one.
A husband came home late. The wife asked for the reason. He answered it was his work load at the office. The mere questioning showed that there was a healthy jealousy there.
By just letting go, a wife or a husband can't be sure with what one was doing. He or she might have an affair out there. But, there is a big but here. The jealousy must be controlled and come together with mutual trust and truthfulness. without the two, that little jealousy can well blossomed into that fat ugly green monster!
Now let me turn into that green monster.
Some people can be jealous of so many things. Jealous of others' well being, others' more beautiful or more handsomer spouse, others' bigger house, more intelligent children and so on and so forth.
Jealous with the intention of motivating themselves to equal those whom they are jealoused of, is ok and asked for.
But it is the jealousy that lead to anger and the culmination of ambition to see them fall is bad.
I have seen these things happening among us. They resort to the use of black magic, evil spirit and all sorts of dark ages practices to dethrone their enemies.
Successful restaurant suddenly become empty. Loving couple suddenly break off. Well to do people suddenly disappear.
I have come across cases of a restaurant being empty because clients just do not see it. When asked, the clients said that they did not see the restaurant anymore!
So please control the green monster in us. Never allow it to grow to the size that we cannot handle it anymore.
Is jealousy a good thing?
Well, they say a little of jealousy brings good to our lives. We do need a little controlled jealousy to survive and be happy in this world.
A little controlled jealousy makes us all wary about things. Take a husband and wife relationship, for instance. Both should have a little of jealousy with one another. Do not just accept everything that is said by one.
A husband came home late. The wife asked for the reason. He answered it was his work load at the office. The mere questioning showed that there was a healthy jealousy there.
By just letting go, a wife or a husband can't be sure with what one was doing. He or she might have an affair out there. But, there is a big but here. The jealousy must be controlled and come together with mutual trust and truthfulness. without the two, that little jealousy can well blossomed into that fat ugly green monster!
Now let me turn into that green monster.
Some people can be jealous of so many things. Jealous of others' well being, others' more beautiful or more handsomer spouse, others' bigger house, more intelligent children and so on and so forth.
Jealous with the intention of motivating themselves to equal those whom they are jealoused of, is ok and asked for.
But it is the jealousy that lead to anger and the culmination of ambition to see them fall is bad.
I have seen these things happening among us. They resort to the use of black magic, evil spirit and all sorts of dark ages practices to dethrone their enemies.
Successful restaurant suddenly become empty. Loving couple suddenly break off. Well to do people suddenly disappear.
I have come across cases of a restaurant being empty because clients just do not see it. When asked, the clients said that they did not see the restaurant anymore!
So please control the green monster in us. Never allow it to grow to the size that we cannot handle it anymore.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
ONE DAY ON LPT
I was speeding along the LPT at 130-140 km/h. I knew that I was driving above and over the allowed speed limit of 110 km/h. But I just could not help it. That was the first time I drove my E200 Kompressor on a highway.
I could feel the power. Going 140km/hr felt nothing, just like doing 120 in my Citra (sorry Citra, I didn't mean to belittle you).
Then out of nowhere a nondescript car came behind me, ever so close. I glanced through the side mirror and guessed that it must be either a Lancer or something very fast.
It hogged me for a few more kilometres down the highway. I lost my cool and decided to let it pass.
It passed me and I was flabbergasted, to say the least, that it was just an old Wira with all the modifications!
I drove on towards Karak. I passed one C200K. Then, believe it or not, a Proton Saga (the first edition)drove fast behind the two of us. With a foot hard on the gas pedal the driver overtook the two of us like no man's business.
It hurtled in front leaving us perplexed. How could such a car speeding like that?
By the way the driver was driving with a baby sitting in the front seat. Oh what a super cool chum. I wonder what engine the car was using now. I was sure it could not be the old Proton Saga's own engine!
I could feel the power. Going 140km/hr felt nothing, just like doing 120 in my Citra (sorry Citra, I didn't mean to belittle you).
Then out of nowhere a nondescript car came behind me, ever so close. I glanced through the side mirror and guessed that it must be either a Lancer or something very fast.
It hogged me for a few more kilometres down the highway. I lost my cool and decided to let it pass.
It passed me and I was flabbergasted, to say the least, that it was just an old Wira with all the modifications!
I drove on towards Karak. I passed one C200K. Then, believe it or not, a Proton Saga (the first edition)drove fast behind the two of us. With a foot hard on the gas pedal the driver overtook the two of us like no man's business.
It hurtled in front leaving us perplexed. How could such a car speeding like that?
By the way the driver was driving with a baby sitting in the front seat. Oh what a super cool chum. I wonder what engine the car was using now. I was sure it could not be the old Proton Saga's own engine!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
OF LEPTOSPIROSIS & MELIOIDOSIS
Malaysians are very anxious with the recent outbreaks of the so-inappropriately-called mouse-urine disease in several river resort areas in several states.
Leptospirosis is the right name for the disease, and the organism causing the disease, Leptospira is found not only in mouse's urine but also in urine of other animals, including infected man.
Pity the mouse getting the bad name for a disease spread by not only them but by other creatures too.
Still remember sometimes back the state of Malacca refusing to name a newly discovered virus Malacca virus just because the Chief Minister was afraid that the name would have a negative impact on tourism.
This was, in my opinion, not true. Places, villages, towns and cities have been chosen as names of diseases. Who can still remember Hendra, Nipah, Newcastle? Salmonella was after the name of its founder, Salmon something!
While browsing through the Internet I found one very old, in fact just one year younger than me, paper on Leptospirosis in Malaysia. The study showed that the disease was very prevalent here at that time.
The study showed that 25% of human population, 33.3% of domestic animal and 33.3% of wild rodents tested showed evidence of antibodies to one or more strains of Leptospira.
In humans the antibody was uniformly high in urban, ruaral and jungle inhabitants alike, which in domestic animals horses, oxen, pigs and dogs showed high incidence.
The strains of Leprospira here include Leptospira hebdomadis, L. pyrogenes, L. icterohemorraghiae and L. grippotyphosa.
I have even lost a Sdara due to Leptospirosis.
Melioidosis, on the other hand is found in many areas including SEA, Northern Australia, South Pacific, Africa and India. The organism causing this disease is Burkholderia psudomallei (formerly called Pseudomonas psudomallei)a bacterium commonly found in soil, paddy field and stagnant water.
The disease was once called Vietnam's time bomb amongst the US soldiers after the Vietnam war. Soldiers were dying well after the war was over in the US. Autopsy revealed that they had melioidosis. It was most probably that they got infected inhaling the bacteria in the soil dust as the helicopter hovered or through drinking of contaminated and raw water.
A son of one of my staffs in Kuantan perished due to the disease. My investigation showed that he had often played with an infected sheep and also played in water puddle around his house which was also infected with the bacteria.
So you see, both Leptospirosis and Melioidosis can get you if you are not careful. Both can kill. Take care what you touch, where you swim and what you eat or drink when you are out there in the jungle or river enjoying yourselves.
Leptospirosis is the right name for the disease, and the organism causing the disease, Leptospira is found not only in mouse's urine but also in urine of other animals, including infected man.
Pity the mouse getting the bad name for a disease spread by not only them but by other creatures too.
Still remember sometimes back the state of Malacca refusing to name a newly discovered virus Malacca virus just because the Chief Minister was afraid that the name would have a negative impact on tourism.
This was, in my opinion, not true. Places, villages, towns and cities have been chosen as names of diseases. Who can still remember Hendra, Nipah, Newcastle? Salmonella was after the name of its founder, Salmon something!
While browsing through the Internet I found one very old, in fact just one year younger than me, paper on Leptospirosis in Malaysia. The study showed that the disease was very prevalent here at that time.
The study showed that 25% of human population, 33.3% of domestic animal and 33.3% of wild rodents tested showed evidence of antibodies to one or more strains of Leptospira.
In humans the antibody was uniformly high in urban, ruaral and jungle inhabitants alike, which in domestic animals horses, oxen, pigs and dogs showed high incidence.
The strains of Leprospira here include Leptospira hebdomadis, L. pyrogenes, L. icterohemorraghiae and L. grippotyphosa.
I have even lost a Sdara due to Leptospirosis.
Melioidosis, on the other hand is found in many areas including SEA, Northern Australia, South Pacific, Africa and India. The organism causing this disease is Burkholderia psudomallei (formerly called Pseudomonas psudomallei)a bacterium commonly found in soil, paddy field and stagnant water.
The disease was once called Vietnam's time bomb amongst the US soldiers after the Vietnam war. Soldiers were dying well after the war was over in the US. Autopsy revealed that they had melioidosis. It was most probably that they got infected inhaling the bacteria in the soil dust as the helicopter hovered or through drinking of contaminated and raw water.
A son of one of my staffs in Kuantan perished due to the disease. My investigation showed that he had often played with an infected sheep and also played in water puddle around his house which was also infected with the bacteria.
So you see, both Leptospirosis and Melioidosis can get you if you are not careful. Both can kill. Take care what you touch, where you swim and what you eat or drink when you are out there in the jungle or river enjoying yourselves.
Monday, September 20, 2010
NO PLASTIC BAG CAMPAIGN
I am always pissed of whenever I see non-biodegradable things strewn all over the place.
Yes things like used polystyrene packages, plastic bags, plastic bottles, etc etc
I am not that angry if I saw degradable materials being thrown away in inappropriate places, I just close one eye most often though deep inside, I am still annoyed at the irresponsible acts of some of us.
Imagine you were following behind a luxury car and suddenly the occupants threw a plastic bag full of rambutan skin onto the roadside. I will normally pressed hard on my car horn, just reminding him that I care for my environment.
So many times have I brought this matter up. How we must act to stop polluting and degrading our environment by our silly way.
Now there is this thing called no-plastic-bag campaign. Well, I know that this is a tall order for the public.
They have been so used to the idea of putting in whatever they purcahse from the shop into plastic bags to carry home. What better alternative do they have?
Long gone were the days when shoppers, especially those going to wet markets, brought their own shopping bag to the market.
So, the first alternative here is to reuse the loyal shopping bags.
The second thing is the wider use of paper bags - you know the ones they often use in the West.
Make using paper bags something trendy and in fashion, thus people will start scrounging looking for brown paper bags to carry their things home.
Yes things like used polystyrene packages, plastic bags, plastic bottles, etc etc
I am not that angry if I saw degradable materials being thrown away in inappropriate places, I just close one eye most often though deep inside, I am still annoyed at the irresponsible acts of some of us.
Imagine you were following behind a luxury car and suddenly the occupants threw a plastic bag full of rambutan skin onto the roadside. I will normally pressed hard on my car horn, just reminding him that I care for my environment.
So many times have I brought this matter up. How we must act to stop polluting and degrading our environment by our silly way.
Now there is this thing called no-plastic-bag campaign. Well, I know that this is a tall order for the public.
They have been so used to the idea of putting in whatever they purcahse from the shop into plastic bags to carry home. What better alternative do they have?
Long gone were the days when shoppers, especially those going to wet markets, brought their own shopping bag to the market.
So, the first alternative here is to reuse the loyal shopping bags.
The second thing is the wider use of paper bags - you know the ones they often use in the West.
Make using paper bags something trendy and in fashion, thus people will start scrounging looking for brown paper bags to carry their things home.
THE MIND THINKS THAT IT IS STILL RAMADHAN
Last night I went to sleep very early. I guessed the long Eid vacation had exhausted me through and through.
However, a call from Prof. Bidin Yatim from perlis rudely but on the other hand thankfully awakened me from sleep.
"Sorry for disturbing your sleep.." He understood that I was already asleep.
"It's ok...anything?"
"Just to tell you that the YB has no son with the name you gave me."
That was it. A scam is in progress. I quickly called my sister telling her about the man who my niece is having a serious relationship with.
He is clearly impersonating as the son of a VVIP.
Having called my wife and daughter, I then continued my slumber.
At 5.07 I was already wide awake. The alarm was supposed to go at 5.47 but the mind was still thinking that it was still Ramadhan!
However, a call from Prof. Bidin Yatim from perlis rudely but on the other hand thankfully awakened me from sleep.
"Sorry for disturbing your sleep.." He understood that I was already asleep.
"It's ok...anything?"
"Just to tell you that the YB has no son with the name you gave me."
That was it. A scam is in progress. I quickly called my sister telling her about the man who my niece is having a serious relationship with.
He is clearly impersonating as the son of a VVIP.
Having called my wife and daughter, I then continued my slumber.
At 5.07 I was already wide awake. The alarm was supposed to go at 5.47 but the mind was still thinking that it was still Ramadhan!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
LIFE
We were the first to move in to Taman Samudera Timur (the other Taman Samudera is near Batu caves). That too after fighting over a room and often lost, in my mother's house in Bukit Kuang, whenever the nine of us came home during festivities.
Then, he followed suite and bought the house right in front of our house. Did not really know why he (with all his money and assets) took so long a time to buy one such house.
Just a few months after that, his sister, coming all the way from KL and much to the puzzle of her husband, bought the house to the right of ours.
By a twist of fate, unknown to us first, our next door neighbour was also a relative. His wife, a Filipina convert, was extra sweet to us. Sadly she passed away not very long after we got to know her, due to biliary carcinoma.
She kept her sickness a top secret. She only told her children just a few weeks before she passed away.
It was her extraordinary love of animals that attracted me to her. She told me that once she met a cat just after it was runned down by a car. She took the cat in her hands and begged for passersby to help her bring it to the nearest vet. But nobody gave her a hand. She was pissed off by the lack of consideration and passion towards animals shown by most Malaysians.
I told her that it would take another fifty years or may be more, for the Malaysians in general to have the love for animals as many Westerners do.
Coming back to my original aim of scribbling this note. My two cousins, they are brother and sister. Strangely, for reasons known only to them, they have not been talking to each other for quite sometimes now.
One is super rich with lots of money in the bank and assets such as hundreds of acres of land, a dozen or more deep-sea fishing boats, iron ore mine, a newly completed swiftlet house, a house that he rents out in Mekah, etc. But he lacks formal education.
Having said that, he surprised everybody by being a shrewd businessman in spite of having just a standard four primary school level of education. He is also blessed with many children - he opined that he wanted to increase the Prophet Muhammad's ummah. To me, quantity yes, but what about quality?
The other one is not that bad either. But why they have to sever the kinship bond?
There is no excuse or reason strong enough or justifiable to cause the severing of family ties. Ramadhan was the best month to reconcile, forgive and forget, but Ramadhan has passed...There are many more Ramadhans coming, that only if we were blessed with a longer time to live in this world...
To everybody reading this entry, please know that it has never been my intention to backbite or say bad about my neighbours. It is just for us all to ponder, think, ruminate or call whatever it is to learn the reality of life.
Leaving all that, I drove up to KT at exactly 5.15 this morning and as usual stopped at Masjid Rantau abang for subuh prayers. I arrived at UNISZA City Campus at slightly over 7.15 am and had all the parking spaces to choose and all the time to relax before going over my lectures.
Then, he followed suite and bought the house right in front of our house. Did not really know why he (with all his money and assets) took so long a time to buy one such house.
Just a few months after that, his sister, coming all the way from KL and much to the puzzle of her husband, bought the house to the right of ours.
By a twist of fate, unknown to us first, our next door neighbour was also a relative. His wife, a Filipina convert, was extra sweet to us. Sadly she passed away not very long after we got to know her, due to biliary carcinoma.
She kept her sickness a top secret. She only told her children just a few weeks before she passed away.
It was her extraordinary love of animals that attracted me to her. She told me that once she met a cat just after it was runned down by a car. She took the cat in her hands and begged for passersby to help her bring it to the nearest vet. But nobody gave her a hand. She was pissed off by the lack of consideration and passion towards animals shown by most Malaysians.
I told her that it would take another fifty years or may be more, for the Malaysians in general to have the love for animals as many Westerners do.
Coming back to my original aim of scribbling this note. My two cousins, they are brother and sister. Strangely, for reasons known only to them, they have not been talking to each other for quite sometimes now.
One is super rich with lots of money in the bank and assets such as hundreds of acres of land, a dozen or more deep-sea fishing boats, iron ore mine, a newly completed swiftlet house, a house that he rents out in Mekah, etc. But he lacks formal education.
Having said that, he surprised everybody by being a shrewd businessman in spite of having just a standard four primary school level of education. He is also blessed with many children - he opined that he wanted to increase the Prophet Muhammad's ummah. To me, quantity yes, but what about quality?
The other one is not that bad either. But why they have to sever the kinship bond?
There is no excuse or reason strong enough or justifiable to cause the severing of family ties. Ramadhan was the best month to reconcile, forgive and forget, but Ramadhan has passed...There are many more Ramadhans coming, that only if we were blessed with a longer time to live in this world...
To everybody reading this entry, please know that it has never been my intention to backbite or say bad about my neighbours. It is just for us all to ponder, think, ruminate or call whatever it is to learn the reality of life.
Leaving all that, I drove up to KT at exactly 5.15 this morning and as usual stopped at Masjid Rantau abang for subuh prayers. I arrived at UNISZA City Campus at slightly over 7.15 am and had all the parking spaces to choose and all the time to relax before going over my lectures.
OF SCORPION, SQUIRRELS, HORNBILLS & OUR MATURED 'STOCKING'
A humongous black hairy scorpion suddenly crawled out of my E200K. The sound of me sweeping pieces of freshly cut grass and other debris from the new flooring of our garage probably had startled it.
I immediately called Syafiq who came running to catch the arachnid.
"I'm scared...it is so big!"
"There's nothing to be scared of. Just snip off its sting and you'll be all right."
He then did just that and soon the scorpion was in his terrarium.
Without its sting and poison gland, it was no more a risk to anyone. In fact it became a curio with Amalia's classmates who came during our Eid open house.
A pair of very friendly squirrels, like always played catch-me-if-you-can with one another over the fence.
They were so cuddly..oh how I wish they would allow us to hold and caress their velvetty fur.
Up a tall coconut tree three or more hornbills were busy playing. I was always amazed at how these once-deep-forest birds were able to adapt and adopt themselves to the sub-urban to urban environment.
I guess they were very happy to live in between us knowing very well that nobody here would go out and hunt them.
'Stocking', our cat was busy frolicking around with his newly found girlfriend, our neighbour's queen. We were glad that now Stocking was no more a pushover for that darn old tomcat that had been harassing him around.
Strangely, they became close pals now...I mean they did not fight as mush as before and Stocking sometimes would lie around just a few feet away from it under our cars.
I immediately called Syafiq who came running to catch the arachnid.
"I'm scared...it is so big!"
"There's nothing to be scared of. Just snip off its sting and you'll be all right."
He then did just that and soon the scorpion was in his terrarium.
Without its sting and poison gland, it was no more a risk to anyone. In fact it became a curio with Amalia's classmates who came during our Eid open house.
A pair of very friendly squirrels, like always played catch-me-if-you-can with one another over the fence.
They were so cuddly..oh how I wish they would allow us to hold and caress their velvetty fur.
Up a tall coconut tree three or more hornbills were busy playing. I was always amazed at how these once-deep-forest birds were able to adapt and adopt themselves to the sub-urban to urban environment.
I guess they were very happy to live in between us knowing very well that nobody here would go out and hunt them.
'Stocking', our cat was busy frolicking around with his newly found girlfriend, our neighbour's queen. We were glad that now Stocking was no more a pushover for that darn old tomcat that had been harassing him around.
Strangely, they became close pals now...I mean they did not fight as mush as before and Stocking sometimes would lie around just a few feet away from it under our cars.
THE IMPORTANCE OF KINSHIP
We are very much saddened by one of our family members who has been acting well against the Islamic teaching of maintaining kinship. Even in the holy month of Ramadhan they did not show any kind of remorse of severing the bond.
I do hope he and his family read the following article...in reality, nothing can sever this bond...
The Importance of Kinship in Islam
Maintaining Silat ur-Rahm (Family Ties) is an Islamic Obligation
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain the bonds of kinship." [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah's Announcement
A young man once went to attend the weekly hadith lecture of the Sahabi Sayyidna Abu Hurairah, Radi-Allahu anhu but Abu Hurairah's routine opening announcement stopped him:
"If anyone sitting here has severed any ties of kinship (qata-ur-rahim), he should leave." (and repair his relationship).
The young man recalled his aunt, who lived in the same town but with whom he had not been on speaking terms. The young man quietly left the gathering and went straight to his aunt's home. He met his aunt and asked for forgiveness for his past behavior and sought rapprochement.
When the aunt inquired about the reason for this change of heart, the young man narrated how he had heard Abu Huraira's announcement. His aunt accepted the apology but asked him to inquire from Abu Hurairah, Radi-Allahu anhu, the reason for this unusual announcement. Why, instead of mentioning the major sins, did Abu Hurairah focus only on this issue? What was so special about ties of kinship?
Sayyidna Abu Hurairah replied that he had heard from the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam that our deeds are presented to Allah every Thursday night and anyone who has severed family ties has all his good deeds rejected. Abu Hurairah did not want any such person sitting in his gathering, which was held on the same night, for fear that it could deprive the entire gathering of blessings.
Another hadith explains further the reason for this fear: "Allah's mercy will not descend on people among whom there is one who severs ties of kinship." [Baihaqi, Shuab Al-Iman]
Silat ur-Rahm and Qata ur-Rahm
Maintaining the bonds of kinship (silat ur-rahm) indeed enjoys extraordinary importance in Islam. Conversely, severing the ties (qata-ur-rahm), is very high on the list of enormities. At two places in the Qur'an, Allah has cursed the one severing family ties:
"And those who break the covenant of Allah, after its ratification, and sever that which Allah has commanded to be joined (i.e. they sever the bond of kinship and are not good to their relatives) and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse, and for them is the unhappy home." - [Ar-Rad 13:25. See also Muhammad, 47:22-23].
A cursed person is one who is deprived of the mercy of Allah. It is an indication of this deprivation that this sin is punished in this world as well as in the Hereafter.
"There is no sin more deserving of having punishment meted out by Allah to its perpetrator in advance in this world along with what He stores up for him in the next world than oppression and severing ties of family." [Tirmidhi]
Another hadith highlights the high stakes involved here in a compelling way:
"Rahm (family ties) is a word derived from Ar-Rahman (The Compassionate One) And Allah says: 'I shall keep connection with him who maintains you and sever connection with him who severs you.'" [Bukhari]
The Degree of Family Obligations in Islam
Silatur-rahm has been defined as politeness, kind treatment, and concern for all one's relatives even if distantly related, corrupt, non-Muslim, or unappreciative. [Shaikh Abdul Wakil Durubi in Reliance of the Traveller].
While nearly every religion has emphasized good family relations, Islam has taken it to unprecedented heights. It is a duty to be discharged without an eye for reciprocity. A Muslim is required to be kind even to his non-Muslim relatives. Similarly he is required to be kind to even those relatives who are harsh to him.
The most telling example in this regard is that of Sayyidna Abu Bakr, Radi-Allahu anhu. Among the many people who benefited from his generosity was a relative named Mistah, Radi-Allahu anhu. The latter, unfortunately became involved in the scandal about the Mother of Believers, Sayyida Aisha, Radi-Allahu anha, which was started by the leader of the hypocrites. It was a whole month of torment and torture for all involved, after which verses of Surat an-Noor were revealed exonerating her and prescribing punishment for those involved in the false accusation. Feeling hurt and betrayed, Sayyidna Abu Bakr, Radi-Allahu anhu, vowed never to help Mistah again. Yet the Qur'an asked him to forget and forgive and continue helping his relative, which he did. Is there another society that can even come close to this standard in maintaining family ties?
Islam came to set all our relationships right. This includes our relations with Allah as well as with other human beings. Silat-ur-Rahim is a very important part of the latter.
The Sad Situation Today
Today, unfortunately, these teachings can mostly be found in Muslim societies in their violation. The best we do today is reciprocate; more commonly we backbite, cheat, and hurt our relatives and continue the spiral of hurt and humiliation as they respond. And we just abandon those of our relatives who are economically unfortunate.
There are three reasons for this sad situation:
First is the widespread ignorance about Islamic teachings in this regard. Even in various Islamic groups the subject hardly gets the attention it deserves.
Second is the rampant materialism. While materialism hurts all aspects of our lives, it is especially damaging to family ties for they require sacrifice of time, money and personal comfort.
The third reason has to do with recent history. It is a "gift" of the transformation of Muslim societies under colonialism.
The Industrial Revolution came at a time when Muslim civilization was in the doldrums. Muslim historians point out very accurately that the genesis of European Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution was in the Golden Age of Muslim Spain. Yet it is also true that it progressed at a time of Muslim decline. And that explains the form it took and the devastation it caused to the family life. Everywhere it disrupted human relations.
The poet Iqbal pointed to this when he said in his famous line: The rule of machines is death for the heart. Machine tools crush compassion.
Later, under the influence of colonialism, urban centers throughout the Muslim world faithfully duplicated all of these problems. This was just what a blind following of the West promised. Relations between husband and wife, between parents and children, between workers and managers, between neighbors, between relatives, in other words between all segments of society were dealt a devastating blow.
The process continues in the post industrial, neo-colonial period. To quote one example, television is rapidly destroying what was left of human relations, cutting off even members of the same family from each other and engulfing everyone within his or her own pleasure cocoon, oblivious to the world without. It is just one, but probably the most subversive and intrusive tool of our so called postmodern global village. Village of distant neighbors without love and kinship.
I do hope he and his family read the following article...in reality, nothing can sever this bond...
The Importance of Kinship in Islam
Maintaining Silat ur-Rahm (Family Ties) is an Islamic Obligation
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain the bonds of kinship." [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah's Announcement
A young man once went to attend the weekly hadith lecture of the Sahabi Sayyidna Abu Hurairah, Radi-Allahu anhu but Abu Hurairah's routine opening announcement stopped him:
"If anyone sitting here has severed any ties of kinship (qata-ur-rahim), he should leave." (and repair his relationship).
The young man recalled his aunt, who lived in the same town but with whom he had not been on speaking terms. The young man quietly left the gathering and went straight to his aunt's home. He met his aunt and asked for forgiveness for his past behavior and sought rapprochement.
When the aunt inquired about the reason for this change of heart, the young man narrated how he had heard Abu Huraira's announcement. His aunt accepted the apology but asked him to inquire from Abu Hurairah, Radi-Allahu anhu, the reason for this unusual announcement. Why, instead of mentioning the major sins, did Abu Hurairah focus only on this issue? What was so special about ties of kinship?
Sayyidna Abu Hurairah replied that he had heard from the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam that our deeds are presented to Allah every Thursday night and anyone who has severed family ties has all his good deeds rejected. Abu Hurairah did not want any such person sitting in his gathering, which was held on the same night, for fear that it could deprive the entire gathering of blessings.
Another hadith explains further the reason for this fear: "Allah's mercy will not descend on people among whom there is one who severs ties of kinship." [Baihaqi, Shuab Al-Iman]
Silat ur-Rahm and Qata ur-Rahm
Maintaining the bonds of kinship (silat ur-rahm) indeed enjoys extraordinary importance in Islam. Conversely, severing the ties (qata-ur-rahm), is very high on the list of enormities. At two places in the Qur'an, Allah has cursed the one severing family ties:
"And those who break the covenant of Allah, after its ratification, and sever that which Allah has commanded to be joined (i.e. they sever the bond of kinship and are not good to their relatives) and work mischief in the land, on them is the curse, and for them is the unhappy home." - [Ar-Rad 13:25. See also Muhammad, 47:22-23].
A cursed person is one who is deprived of the mercy of Allah. It is an indication of this deprivation that this sin is punished in this world as well as in the Hereafter.
"There is no sin more deserving of having punishment meted out by Allah to its perpetrator in advance in this world along with what He stores up for him in the next world than oppression and severing ties of family." [Tirmidhi]
Another hadith highlights the high stakes involved here in a compelling way:
"Rahm (family ties) is a word derived from Ar-Rahman (The Compassionate One) And Allah says: 'I shall keep connection with him who maintains you and sever connection with him who severs you.'" [Bukhari]
The Degree of Family Obligations in Islam
Silatur-rahm has been defined as politeness, kind treatment, and concern for all one's relatives even if distantly related, corrupt, non-Muslim, or unappreciative. [Shaikh Abdul Wakil Durubi in Reliance of the Traveller].
While nearly every religion has emphasized good family relations, Islam has taken it to unprecedented heights. It is a duty to be discharged without an eye for reciprocity. A Muslim is required to be kind even to his non-Muslim relatives. Similarly he is required to be kind to even those relatives who are harsh to him.
The most telling example in this regard is that of Sayyidna Abu Bakr, Radi-Allahu anhu. Among the many people who benefited from his generosity was a relative named Mistah, Radi-Allahu anhu. The latter, unfortunately became involved in the scandal about the Mother of Believers, Sayyida Aisha, Radi-Allahu anha, which was started by the leader of the hypocrites. It was a whole month of torment and torture for all involved, after which verses of Surat an-Noor were revealed exonerating her and prescribing punishment for those involved in the false accusation. Feeling hurt and betrayed, Sayyidna Abu Bakr, Radi-Allahu anhu, vowed never to help Mistah again. Yet the Qur'an asked him to forget and forgive and continue helping his relative, which he did. Is there another society that can even come close to this standard in maintaining family ties?
Islam came to set all our relationships right. This includes our relations with Allah as well as with other human beings. Silat-ur-Rahim is a very important part of the latter.
The Sad Situation Today
Today, unfortunately, these teachings can mostly be found in Muslim societies in their violation. The best we do today is reciprocate; more commonly we backbite, cheat, and hurt our relatives and continue the spiral of hurt and humiliation as they respond. And we just abandon those of our relatives who are economically unfortunate.
There are three reasons for this sad situation:
First is the widespread ignorance about Islamic teachings in this regard. Even in various Islamic groups the subject hardly gets the attention it deserves.
Second is the rampant materialism. While materialism hurts all aspects of our lives, it is especially damaging to family ties for they require sacrifice of time, money and personal comfort.
The third reason has to do with recent history. It is a "gift" of the transformation of Muslim societies under colonialism.
The Industrial Revolution came at a time when Muslim civilization was in the doldrums. Muslim historians point out very accurately that the genesis of European Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution was in the Golden Age of Muslim Spain. Yet it is also true that it progressed at a time of Muslim decline. And that explains the form it took and the devastation it caused to the family life. Everywhere it disrupted human relations.
The poet Iqbal pointed to this when he said in his famous line: The rule of machines is death for the heart. Machine tools crush compassion.
Later, under the influence of colonialism, urban centers throughout the Muslim world faithfully duplicated all of these problems. This was just what a blind following of the West promised. Relations between husband and wife, between parents and children, between workers and managers, between neighbors, between relatives, in other words between all segments of society were dealt a devastating blow.
The process continues in the post industrial, neo-colonial period. To quote one example, television is rapidly destroying what was left of human relations, cutting off even members of the same family from each other and engulfing everyone within his or her own pleasure cocoon, oblivious to the world without. It is just one, but probably the most subversive and intrusive tool of our so called postmodern global village. Village of distant neighbors without love and kinship.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Village Chicken Curry & Grilled Tuna For Syahur
This early morning, at 5.00 am to be exact, I enjoyed my syahur at home with my family.
There was nothing elaborate or fanciful about it really. But I did not know why, this morning it was subtly special to me.
The meal consisted of steamed white rice with tuna, grilled to perfection by my wife, and a village chicken's wing curry, the remainder of yesterday's breakfast.
Normally we Terengganu folks prepare our tuna either deep fried or cooked as singgang (a kind of soup mixed with galanga, tumeric and garlic). I was first introduced to grilled tuna when I was in Canchun, Mexico.
When you buy a tuna (aya hitam) from the fish market, ask your fishseller to cut the fish into thick stakes. Take one to two stakes and grilled it over a hot non-stick pan with just a sprinkle or two of palm oil.
Don't overcook your tuna or else it will become very dry and tasteless. Have it rare to medium rare and you will have a juicy tuna for dinner!
Coming back to village chicken curry, actually I favour it more compared to the commercial broilers. It has that special characteristics...that chewiness and sweetness.
Of course it is much more expensive. A already dressed almost 2 kg chicken costed me RM 28.00. BUt its taste made the money spent worthwhile.
After syahur I drove back to UNISZA, a bit late compared the other Sundays before.
There was nothing elaborate or fanciful about it really. But I did not know why, this morning it was subtly special to me.
The meal consisted of steamed white rice with tuna, grilled to perfection by my wife, and a village chicken's wing curry, the remainder of yesterday's breakfast.
Normally we Terengganu folks prepare our tuna either deep fried or cooked as singgang (a kind of soup mixed with galanga, tumeric and garlic). I was first introduced to grilled tuna when I was in Canchun, Mexico.
When you buy a tuna (aya hitam) from the fish market, ask your fishseller to cut the fish into thick stakes. Take one to two stakes and grilled it over a hot non-stick pan with just a sprinkle or two of palm oil.
Don't overcook your tuna or else it will become very dry and tasteless. Have it rare to medium rare and you will have a juicy tuna for dinner!
Coming back to village chicken curry, actually I favour it more compared to the commercial broilers. It has that special characteristics...that chewiness and sweetness.
Of course it is much more expensive. A already dressed almost 2 kg chicken costed me RM 28.00. BUt its taste made the money spent worthwhile.
After syahur I drove back to UNISZA, a bit late compared the other Sundays before.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
AS RAMADHAN PULLING DOWN HER CURTAINS....
Yesterday marked my first month as a lecturer and a weekend-and-public-holiday- husband-and-father.
Diyana was in Kuching having great time with a friend whom she had never talked before even though they were together in law school over in IIUM.
Syazwan felt bad when his brand new Proton Saga SE was scratched by someone in the faculty's car park.
Syafiq was still head over heel in love with his scrambler. He spent hours at a time cleaning, polishing and beautifying his motorbike.
Amalia, our youngest, was a little bit green when she saw Diyana's all white bedroom set was brought up her into her sister's room. She was very pleased with how her room looked like, you know the new lilac paint and the purple curtains and not to mention her English cotton baju kurung and 'scaly' scarf.
Our Teratak Syakirin too was ever ready to celebrate the coming Aidilfitri. Her hall had been painted with apple green coat of paint and so too was the curtains. Instead of the brightly coloured material used in the previous years, this year the curtain was gray, perfectly matching with the new paint/
Upstairs, all the rooms had been painted and their ceiling replaced with plaster ceiling. Gone then the problem of guano falling down from the ceiling.
I was all alone in the house, reciting the holy Quran. Now I was at the At-Taubah surah. I have just finished once and now it is my second round. I hope that I can finish reciting the entire Quran for the second time before Ramadhan pulls down her curtain.
Have I done the right thing, taking up the new post after my retirement? Well, to tell you the truth, I am far more relaxed and perhaps happier now with very much less stress and strain.
Bye bye DVS and welcome UNISZA!
Diyana was in Kuching having great time with a friend whom she had never talked before even though they were together in law school over in IIUM.
Syazwan felt bad when his brand new Proton Saga SE was scratched by someone in the faculty's car park.
Syafiq was still head over heel in love with his scrambler. He spent hours at a time cleaning, polishing and beautifying his motorbike.
Amalia, our youngest, was a little bit green when she saw Diyana's all white bedroom set was brought up her into her sister's room. She was very pleased with how her room looked like, you know the new lilac paint and the purple curtains and not to mention her English cotton baju kurung and 'scaly' scarf.
Our Teratak Syakirin too was ever ready to celebrate the coming Aidilfitri. Her hall had been painted with apple green coat of paint and so too was the curtains. Instead of the brightly coloured material used in the previous years, this year the curtain was gray, perfectly matching with the new paint/
Upstairs, all the rooms had been painted and their ceiling replaced with plaster ceiling. Gone then the problem of guano falling down from the ceiling.
I was all alone in the house, reciting the holy Quran. Now I was at the At-Taubah surah. I have just finished once and now it is my second round. I hope that I can finish reciting the entire Quran for the second time before Ramadhan pulls down her curtain.
Have I done the right thing, taking up the new post after my retirement? Well, to tell you the truth, I am far more relaxed and perhaps happier now with very much less stress and strain.
Bye bye DVS and welcome UNISZA!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
