tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2793839160694041912024-03-05T16:45:59.458+08:00Nature loverIt describes my feelings towards life, the past, present and may be the future.azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.comBlogger541125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-61321950660062494192012-07-17T15:33:00.001+08:002012-07-17T15:33:13.313+08:00Here Comes Our Junior Quantity Surveyor<span style="color: red;"><b>He gets it, barely a week after his final paper. Wednesday was his last paper, on Friday he was called for an interview and Monday he was accepted. He starts work on 23 July 2012, four months shy of 22.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><b><br /></b></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-50257036811754443422012-07-16T14:09:00.000+08:002012-07-16T14:09:04.600+08:00PAPPARDELLE REOPENS<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Pappardelle, after an absence of many months, reopens. It reopens a few doors away from its former location. Its internal decor is fast becoming the talk of town, especially those who have been longing to be her guests once again.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>We were her first customers. We arrived at exactly 2.00 pm and revisited her last night...</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>To all Pappardelle's clients, please come and visit her...</b></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-81250999699394751062012-05-31T09:54:00.000+08:002012-05-31T09:54:02.450+08:00<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The MQA Panels have come and done a complete evaluation of our Programme - Bachelor of Animal Production and Health. All the members of the panel of evaluation are my dear friends from UPM.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So the two-day programme went on in a very friendly atmosphere.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Days before the evaluation were hectic. Imagine having to print all the lecture notes, test and exam question papers, answer scripts, etc</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The sweetest thing was to hear The Chairman of the panel saying that we have to be proud that our programme is unique in the sense that it covers almost equal portion of animal production and health.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A small concern is that there is too big a gap in the age of lecturers. There are no 30+ - 40+ age group! We all realize this.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is over and I hope we will get a good report. </span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-88627409845878842732012-05-24T14:21:00.000+08:002012-05-24T14:21:00.413+08:00<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">Again I was called to mumble and nag about the standard English among us, students and adults alike.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">No, I am not flagging-up English </span><span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">just because it is the language of our colonial masters.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is because, like it or not, most of the present scientific presentations, be it oral or written, are in English.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even tests and exams are also in English.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We just have to accept that English is important. I know, some of you will say what about the Japanese? The French? The Germans?</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know, they still speak and write in their mother tongue lingo.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No, I don't care about them. What I am interested now is us.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We have to be good in English, that's all.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Please, be serious and listen. We can do it. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Look at me, a kampung boy, wandering barefoot in the beris soil of Kampung Tuan, far from English-speaking comunity and English books, still have the motivation to improve my English.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am not bragging or blowing my own trumpet, but you may say that it was the system, we, I mean those of us born in the fifties, are good in English.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #20124d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Why not look back at how we did it those years. There is no harm and nothing to be ashamed of, to shift into the reverse gear, if that will bring back the standard of English to us.</span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-5234255811703809602012-05-23T09:00:00.002+08:002012-05-23T09:00:47.991+08:00AGING GRACEFULLYFriends, old and new, questioned me for doing what I have been doing since my retirement - still working and living alone.<br />
<br />
I told them repeatedly that despite of my retirement, I still have to work and earn a living.<br />
<br />
I just retired from DVS and never from LIFE.<br />
<br />
There are still mouths to feed, minds to educate, bodies to cloth, necessities to meet, life to continue and knowledge and skills to pass on.<br />
<br />
An FB friend said that it is bad for a man of my age to stay alone 5 days in a week. He proudly told me that he enjoyed life with his family besides him after retirement.<br />
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I told him that I am proud of what I am doing now. I know, life can be a bit miserable with the distant-marriage thing and doing many things alone.<br />
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I just have to work to continue living. The one and half month leave prior to retirement had taught me that not-doing-anything-for-most-of-the-day was not a good and healthy way of life!<br />
<br />
Too much relaxation and a life void of stress kill, or at least make you lose your mind! I don't want to be like that.<br />
<br />
My daughter gave me another two years, after that she wanted me to call it a day and she will look after me for the rest of my life. Well, that was what she said. Reality is another thing.<br />
<br />
I told her that I will continue working until they found me no more useful. I will work till 65, that is my goal.<br />
<br />
I know, some of us also know and may be not many of you know that life as a weekend husband is full of trial and tribulations for marriage.<br />
<br />
Feelings of both husband and wife can easily be disturbed by sense of insecurity, loneliness and of course, that dreaded green monster.<br />
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Delays in answering an sms or picking up calls have been misunderstood as I was doing something else. Sounds of womanly giggles from the next table during dinner as overheard during mobile conversation could easily be misunderstood as I was enjoying my dinner with the opposite sex!<br />
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I know I have gone through some difficult times a few times, but patience, maturity and my great love to my family have made me sailed through the choppy sea, quite smoothly.<br />
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To Allah I pray that I will continue be useful to my fellow human beings and age gracefully till my last breath.<br />
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<br />azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-52536359074634750742012-03-27T17:17:00.000+08:002012-03-27T17:17:26.115+08:00Eye-lashed Palm Pit Viper<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ever-changing colour eye-lashed palm pit viper coiled as a spring ever ready to pounce on unsuspected passing-by prey. Don't let its colourful appearance deceives you. It is indeed a very poisonous snake.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's venom is both hemotoxic and myotoxic, meaning it destrys red blood cells and your muscles. Its extra long slender sharp and curving fangs are scary, to say the least. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It usually lives up trees looking for preys such as birds, rodents and bats.</span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-11792165009999283202012-02-27T15:41:00.000+08:002012-02-27T15:41:39.541+08:00SEARCHING FOR ENGLISH NOVEL PUBLISHER<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">My love for writing is forever bubbling, getting stronger all the time. I have finished one and am working hard on the other two.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The first is about my life. I wonder whether my life is worth publishing and will people buy and read the book if it ever gets published.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For me and a few friends who have peeped into parts of it, they all think that it is worth buying.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is about my life, come to think about it as if have been arranged since very small, as a veterinarian.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It spans from the period when I was four to recently. It covers moments of my life, the times when I was with animals, different species at different time.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It covers games we, children of yesteryears used to play..you know the fighting fish and fighting spiders hunting...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The fruits and berries we used to gather..the fallen sentul, the mushrooms, the bivalves, the shrimps, etc..</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The puppy love...the first love...the school and varsity lives...and the marriage..the kids...the accidents...the success..</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Losing a son...so on and so forth...</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To all publishers out there, please contact me...for I am searching for one to publish my novels...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-31870450105698479972012-02-27T15:25:00.000+08:002012-02-27T15:25:50.706+08:00PAPPARDELI, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO RE-OPEN?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many, my friends and my children's friends, ask me when Pappardeli restaurant is to be re-opened. Why are they asking? Don't tell me there are no other restaurants in Kemaman that they want to go.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Actually they all, me including, are missing the good food served at Pappardelli.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I always make it a point to go there almost every Thursday night after arriving from Kuala Terengganu. A bowl of shark-fin soup (don't worry, it is not that kind of shark-fin that costs hundreds of ringgit a bowl) and a plate of fried rice are a must for me.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The soup gives me the heat that soothes away muscle aches and pains of the drive.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many just fall in love with Pappardelli. Pappardeli is unique, there is no other restaurant in Chukai that serves that kind of food - niche market and the service, well better than most.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Suddenly, the owner of the building, I have met him once during the opening free meal, gave a month's notice for the owner to close down.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't know for what reason he did that. Rumours have it that he was uneasy to see and heard that it was successful</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I know he has all the rights to do whatever he thinks best, but to close something that is thriving, and mind you not many of our people have been successful in this line of business, just because he wanted to close was no reason at all.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I don't mind if he wants to start something there, but to let it go just like that is a sin. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Months have passed and I see the shop lot is still close The last time I drove through was last Saturday night. It was still close. Well, I saw signs that there was some works on the floor - there were rubbles there.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile the owner, so I was told, is still waiting for the key to a shop lot next door whose owner has promised to let it to him. This time around I hope he will sign a renting agreement with the owner, just to ensure history does not repeat itself.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, to all Pappardelli food lovers out there, you all can still go to their outlet in KSB...but it is only open during office hours.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">It looks like I have to continue missing the food...</span></div>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-76239540175970153752012-02-12T09:47:00.000+08:002012-02-12T09:47:47.513+08:00A Crying Tree StumpEverybody heard something crying aloud as soon as Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)left the tree stump that he had been using to convey his messages to his followers for a new mimbar. Initially no one knew who was crying. Then they realized that it was that tree stump. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) approached the stump and stroked it. It stopped crying as soon as the Prophet pacified it by saying that it would be with him in the Heaven.<br />
The message: Even a tree stump missed the prophet, what about us?azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-3727222746186155042012-02-07T12:22:00.000+08:002012-02-07T12:22:56.542+08:00It is here again<span style="font-size: large;">It is just unbelievable and almost unreal how suspicion, negative thoughts and perceptions have changed the way we love each other, I mean my wife and I.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No, we have never stopped loving each other. It is just that her biology, physiology and not to mention her hormone levels, I guess that had somewhat soured our husband-and-wife intimate relationship. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">She had somewhat lost interest, while I had not! I never said that we had completely stopped performing the ritual. We still did it, but with less vigour and volunteerism. It had become a one-sided affair most of the time and almost robotic to say the least.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Contrary to the popular saying, absence sickened, instead of making the hearts grow fonder! </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Suddenly I became a monster. Several minutes delay in responding to her sms or call was interpreted as being with someone else. Giggles and voices of the opposite sex caught on while we were talking over the hp were taken as I was having dinner or good times with the opposite gender.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It was difficult and outright mentally-disturbing when here I was doing things, sitting watching television, having dinner and sleeping, alone and there she was accusing me of having jolly good times with someone else! </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Only prayers and inner-self-strength made me continuously sane during this trying period. All the challenges that we had faced together made us persevere.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then, just like that, everything change for the better. Sure, the tantrum of a jealous wife is still there, but it is of very much less severity than before.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our intimacy, well we are now just like a newly wed couple. Our time spent together was quality time. It is no more robotic in nature, instead it is always full of life, zealousness and zest. In short, it will make newly weds run for their money if they do not excel in it!</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks Allah for bringing light to her and making her accept the way our life is at the moment. I just feel obligated to the students and the faculty. It is my responsibility to Allah to pass on what I am blessed with before they are lost with age.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> After all she is the one and the only wife I have for now. I'll never leave her, let alone abuse her.</span><br />
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</span><br />
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</span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-64047945447606826782012-02-07T11:40:00.000+08:002012-02-07T11:40:58.388+08:00I have been busy<span><span style="background-color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A friend asked me why I had not been up-dating my blog for quite some time. Well, to tell you the truth, of late I have been busy with my Facebook instead.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is just much simpler to jot a few words here and there rather on some people's wall or status than to write a story or an idea. I am so much engrossed with Fb that my children called me a grand stalker!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Also, I have been busy re-writing you know My Moments in the novel format. I am now in the last chapter. I am still thinking how to close it. It is difficult as life is still going on and there are so many things to write.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I am also busy searching for the right title for it. Anybody who can help me in coming up with an appropriate pulling title please put up your hand and give me your suggestion.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is about my life, a son of a forever moving policeman, from 4 years old to the last few years of my life. There were animals in most parts of my moments. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To you publishers out there, or anyone who knows or has influence on any publishers interested in giving it a go with an autobiography that I think worth publishing and reading, please give me a tinkle. May be we can work something worthwhile for all.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Then I will be continue with my other two novels. They were almost complete, but need further editing.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-45033842361984789242012-01-02T09:48:00.000+08:002012-01-02T09:48:41.879+08:00Stem CellsOne morning during breakfast at a food stall in front of PGA Camp in Kubang Badak I overheard a group people from a table in front of me talking seriously about something. I did not mean to eavesdrop, but the topic was something I think I knew a bit to share with them.<br />
<br />
It was about stem cells. They were talking about the use of umbilical cord stem cells (UCSC).<br />
<br />
I then joined in the discussion from my table. "What are stem cells?" They asked me.<br />
<br />
They are cells that have not differentiated fully and can form any specialized cells if the need arise. The first use of stem cells in treating disease is the use of bone marrow for the treatment of leukemia.<br />
<br />
They seemed so interested in what I told them. They even invited me to give a talk on stem cells to their musola congregation. I said why not?azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-89639775981932111102011-12-23T00:16:00.000+08:002011-12-23T00:16:38.362+08:00Paper Chase - A New IllnessOur youngest made us proud today. She scored straight A's in her PMR, and so other 18 of her friends. They were from SMKSI, the oldest secondary school in Chukai.<br />
<br />
I am very happy to see how jubilant they were, these high-achievers. So to were their proud parents.<br />
<br />
However, I saw sad tears in two of her best friends. They scored 7 A's and 1 B. To them and many more who scored 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7's they thought that they had done badly in PMR.<br />
<br />
No, you haven't my dear. You have done very well, no matter what you feel and others think.<br />
<br />
I saw a Chinese girl crying badly as she was not announced as one of the 19 who scored straight A's. She was so distraught that her mother and friends had to console her.<br />
<br />
She was always a straight A students all these while. That's why. The pressure was so great on her to score straight A's. Scoring 6 or 7 A's was not sufficient for her, that was what she think.<br />
<br />
The paper chase is fast putting unnecessary pressure on our children. If left unstopped, it will depress our less-mighty academic achievers.<br />
<br />
It is not necessary to scoretraight A's to succeed in life!<br />
<br />
Congratulation to all of your!azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-57750838528319858902011-11-30T08:33:00.000+08:002011-11-30T08:33:14.658+08:00A Lady CryingMore often than not she gave me that please-help-me-if-you-can look. We also noticed that she once, I missed 'te in a while wiped the tears from her eyes. She was crying. Her eyes were red and swollen. The man with her, could not tell who he was to her, was in full big-biker's uniform - red and white leathing thing and boots.<br />
He was very clear not showing any sympathy or empathy for her. All he was interested was communicating with someone else over his mobile. More than a few times now he walked away from the table just to talk in privacy with someone somewhere.<br />
I was sure he was talking to another woman and he would not want her to hear what they were talking about.<br />
She was not having anything to eat with him. She quickly changed from eating in to eating away.<br />
A few minutes later and after Diyana's reminders for us not to be busy body, I missed the 'the end' of their melodrama. He was on his bike bike and she was quickly out of the Thai restaurant and out of our sight. But one thing very clear was that they departed from each other and went separate ways.<br />
It was ironic- there we were celebrating our 29thwedding anniversary and just a few metres away, theye were separating!azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-26122814988324001272011-10-11T18:51:00.000+08:002011-10-11T18:51:08.510+08:00In Memory of My Dad<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is still vivid in my mind how tears flowed freely from my dad's eyes when he finally broke the story to us all, the story that was so personal that not even my mother new it.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It all began one night when we all were immersed in another tear-jerking Malay drama on television. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Candidly these words blurted out of my sixteen-year-old mouth: "Dad, why didn't you ever go back home to your parents in Rembau? It is a great sin for a son not to visit his mom and dad..."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As sudden as the words came out, so too was his reaction to my probing questions.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"It is not like what you all are thinking. I am not an ungrateful son..."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He was all tears and sobbing terribly as he began to narrate his childhood story to us.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It all began when he felt that, probably because of his darker complexion, he was not loved as a son was expected to be loved by a father.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One night, just as his father came home, he heard his stepmother asked his father why didn't he give the job to my father.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Why should I give the job to him? It is better for me to give it to somebody else."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The words nailed in deep into his young heart. He packed his things and got into a night train to JB.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In JB he was taken in by an auntie who raised him like her own son.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"I even share rice with others while working..."</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">None back home even reported to the police about him went missing...</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">..to be continued....</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-29705831325852536662011-10-11T18:30:00.000+08:002011-10-11T18:30:10.437+08:00Some people have lost their sense of humility<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Usually I do not pay much attention how another man behaves. For me it is up to him to act in any way he thinks best for him.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But, there is this man, a close relative of mine, who suddenly pisses me off whenever he is with us.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He is so uppity and outright show-offish that I just cannot tolerate him any more.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, I know what he must be feeling right now. He must be at the top of the world, with all his children working and having a house bigger than many of us (except ours may be).</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Well, may be it is his way of being thankful to God for the many blessings received.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The way he carries himself in public, the way he treats other people (me including) make me want to puke.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sorry for being rude, but that is what I feel every time he opens his big mouth.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Imagine in a sad gathering recently, he went around telling people that soon one or two of his children will get married; and for each function, nothing less than 30K would be spent.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Why did he has to tell people that? Is he that filthy rich? I don't think so.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Another relative of mine who used to behave in almost similar fashion, is showing all the humility now.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That too not because he likes it, I think. But just because of the not-so-good economy right now.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">He still go about doing things in grandeur style though.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Come on people, nobody is really rich when he still needs somebody to help him sometimes.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Why not be humble and keep in a low profile. A poisonous black mamba or Malaysian krait will not lose its poison just because it crawls along some lowly roots somewhere.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And a glass will always be a glass no matter how well and lavish you package it, but a diamond will still be a diamond and highly sought after by people even if it is deep in man's midnight soil! </span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-41796467488618818352011-09-28T17:01:00.000+08:002011-09-28T17:01:25.542+08:00My Mother<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">There she was, sitting on her favourite easy chair. She was always on that chair whenever we visited her.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">I held her hands and kissed them. I gently hugged her. She was literally only skin and bone.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">Her facial expression was mixed; sometimes it was just like a child longing for a friend, but some other times she was just like her own self.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Who's this?"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Azahar"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">"How many children you have?"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Twelve..."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Can you name them?"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Siti Aminah...I can't..I'm confused.."</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">"What about the nine of us? Who is the eldest?"</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Sutie...I can't...too many branches..." </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">She could not remember the order we came into being into this world.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">She did not know what time it was too.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">She recognize all of us and her close friends who came visiting.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"> She has lost most of her memories...she is having Al-Zheimer...</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's my mother...</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">To Allah I pray that she will be happy no matter what condition she is in...</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;">I love you mom... </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-35055107782571224152011-09-12T17:30:00.000+08:002011-09-12T17:30:14.073+08:00<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The majority of alveoli are markedly distended with neutrophils, macrophages, fibrillar eosinophilic material (fibrin) and cellular debris.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Most pulmonary blood vessels are markedly congested with erythrocytes admixed with moderate amount of neutrophils, some of which are migrating across the vessel wall into the alveoli.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That is what I have seen in a piece of a cow's lung section under a light microscope.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There is a big battle going on in it, a war between some infectious bacteria, <i>Pasteurella </i>spp. that have infected the cow's lung and the cow's immune system.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The presence of the invading bacteria has triggered a great defence mechanism involving the neutrophils, the macrophages and a myriad of chemicals produced by the cow.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This is what I have been looking at, examining and appreciating for the past 15 years or more.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It is the microscopic world.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Do you wonder who orchestrate all that is going on in there?</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Don't tell me that it happens by itself?</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The greatest Creator of them all must have done that. It is all ALLAH's work ensuring that there is equilibrium in there, in the microscopic world!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Allah is great!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-19632299212905317052011-08-23T10:50:00.000+08:002011-08-23T10:50:51.447+08:00IT IS AWFULLY QUIET TODAY IN OFFICE<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Today is 23 rd Ramadhan. In a week's time Muslims the world over will celebrate Eid.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">As usual with us Malays, Eid is something very special.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">We celebrate it with grandeur and lavishness.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Preparation for Eid is usually made early. Families are usually busy purchasing new clothes for their family members. It is uncommon for lady folks to buy 2, 3 or sometimes more pairs of the traditional Baju Kurung.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And they also prepare cookies well ahead of time.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Times like this some have already taken their leaves to make the final preparation.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> That is why it is all quiet in the office....</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-31435077353437692152011-08-22T08:25:00.000+08:002011-08-22T08:25:58.498+08:00BIRDS EVERY WHERE<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The yellow palm trees</span></span> <span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">are busy fruiting. Fruit bunches are sprouting all over despite of my constant plucking.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Peeking from a window from the master bedroom, I see Yellow-vented bulbul parents coaching their fledglings on the techniques of choosing the succulent fruits for lunch.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One fledgling is very good at it, picking and eating, just like its parents. Its fluffy body tells me that it has been eating well.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Coming and go, hopping from one frond to another, sometimes irritating the bulbuls, are the forever active Glossy starlings.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have noticed that these shiny dark green to black (depending from what angle you are watching) birds have been relocating their nests from trees to my roof.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I frequently find dead nestlings in or near the drain. They and the bats are sharing our roof as their roosting place.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">These bats give me the creep. I have place lights in my roof, but they are still there. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-7477172098032740542011-08-15T08:49:00.000+08:002011-08-15T08:49:21.108+08:00O RAMADHAN<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ramadhan is the month where ALLAH promise forgiveness, blessings and many other good things for us.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The greatest gift of them all is the Lailatulkadar - that special night. The night which is said to be among the last 10 days of Ramadhan.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The night that will bring many blessings to those who follow what have been ordered.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The night that will make us live longer even though physically we die at 70.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But, sadly the majority of us are too busy preparing for Aidilfitri during this period.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mosques are relatively emptier compared to the early part of Ramadhan or the Nisfu Syaaban.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What a waste!</span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-23293362641879039422011-08-14T16:24:00.000+08:002011-08-14T16:24:31.817+08:00BACK FROM A TWO-WEEK TOUR OF DUTY IN UZBEKISTAN & DUBAI<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Diyana was back from a two-week tour of duty in Uzbekistan and Dubai.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She came back with a few grams of Saffron (bought both in Tashkent and Dubai and much to the surprise of her friends that she was really serious looking for it), a few bayas (is it spelled that way? - jubah), Uzbek's sweets and other what nots.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Soon she was busy telling stories of her visit..things like they have different breaking fast time between floors on the world's tallest building in Dubai and about a special shop where every other Malaysian visitor frequented, even HRH The Agong.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Welcome back Diyana..at least for now..for I know soon you will be going places again..that is what you have been dreaming of...</span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-91049029247770167762011-08-14T16:00:00.001+08:002011-08-14T16:01:08.237+08:00GONE WITH THE WIND MY 55% NCD<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">Without any reason a motorcycle suddenly ran against the back of my car.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">All I heard was a knock on the rear bumper of my car as I neared Impiana Resort Cherating.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">I saw a motorcyclist and his girl friend tumbling down hard on the road in the left side mirror.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Here it goes again." I said to myself.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;">I gradually brought my car to a stop a few metres away, avoiding the water melons</span></span>.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I got out of the car to have a look at the damage.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The left rear light was shattered to pieces. There were also scratch marks on the bumper cover.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A group of motorcyclist quickly formed at the site of the accident. A storm was brewing.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I quickly summoned Syazwan to help equalize the tension.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A boy motorcyclist approached me and asked:"How to settle the this thing?" What he meant was how much I should pay for the accident.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"Who knocked who here? He ran against my car..he should pay!"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But, here in Malaysia, we car drivers cannot claim damages from motorcyclist!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have to pay the damage from my own car insurance and my 55% NCD!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And I have to pay the full premium come this December!</span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-80725344739525752002011-08-01T08:57:00.000+08:002011-08-01T08:57:54.942+08:00A CAR IN FRONT OF ME CAUGHT FIRE<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This morning as I was entering the City of Kuala Terengganu, a driver of the car in front of me suddenly put on her alarm lights and drove left onto the road reserve.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Smoke came out of the engine of her car.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I saw flame in her engine. Bits and pieces of burning debris fell down onto the ground beneath her car.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Her car was on fire! </span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279383916069404191.post-13786825659979675372011-08-01T08:53:00.000+08:002011-08-01T08:53:02.222+08:00RAMADHAN IS HERE AGAIN<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Time really flies. Without we realizing it, it is already the first Ramadhan today.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All Muslims the world over, irrespective of their ethnicity and financial and social standings, start fasting on the first Ramadhan.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ramadhan fasting consists of much more than merely going off food and water.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We are required to distant ourselves from all that corrode our fast. There are too many things that will do just that for me to detail it out here.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our Prophet said that many of us who fast just get hungry and thirst only.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Why did He said that? </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Because that is what most of us did during Ramadhan...abstaining from food and water, but the eyes see, the ears hear and the mouth says all those that we are not supposed to see, hear and say.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ramadhan fasting has a few levels, from that of the man-on-the-street fasting to that of the Prophets' fasting.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We are required to improve our level of fasting year by year and not just remaining status quo...</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One personal observation that warrants our attention is our too great a love for food during iftar. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I think we spend too much time and money on all those food and drink items.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At iftar, we quickly gobbled in as much food and liquid as we could.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We waste too much food too.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And we also think too much of the Idilfitri.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #351c75;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Happy fasting and may our fast will be accepted by Allah and it will be a better one this year.</span></span></span>azaharhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18298768053860955549noreply@blogger.com0