4 September 2009
Today is yet another day when it was just Khairul (my eldest son) and Khairi (my youngest son) who kept me company at the dining table during buka puasa.
It's the 3rd time in Ramadan that my husband had to attend an official buka puasa do at UPM (that's what I called the peril of being married to someone who's half married to his organization....) You only get him half the time.
And it's the 5th day running that Khairil (my second son) was missing from home during buka puasa. According to his sms, still busy at work...).
Today it was a simple fare comprising white rice (which I abstaned from taking), ikan pari and ikan cencaru bakar, sambal belacan air asam, rojak tahu, kuah lemak cili padi ikan tenggiri and urap kacang botol and tauge Indonesia. Simple yet delectable and yummy. Except for the ikan bakar, everything else was prepared by yours truly.
Another day has gone by, another meal savoured. And Allah, thank you for still keeping me and my family alive and for showering us with abundance of food. Syukur Alhamdulillah.
Friday, September 4, 2009
What Retirement Means To Me: Alpahbetically
4 September 2009
Absolved of Office Responsibilities
Beating the traffic jam
Calming effect on my brain and body
Done with mundane routines
Elevated status - FTH (Full time housewife) as opposed to FTE (Full time employee)
Free from the shackles of impossible bosses and employers
Growing richer emotionally and spiritually
Husband appreciates me more
Irresistably happy
Jumping for joy
Kaleidoscopic view of life
Langushing happily at home
Motherly touch for my four precious kids
No more stress, no more depression
Outrageously upbeat about life
Pampering my family to the hilt
Que sera sera, whatever will be will be
Reeling in comfort and security
Simply fantastic
Thank you Allah for granting my wishes to retire before I turn 50
Utterly blissful new life
Valuable treasures to cherish and love at home
Would I want it any differently? Absolutely Not!
Xtra attention now showered on the family and more time for myself
Yesterday was history - the future will shine brightly
Zealousness is the order of the day, in fact, that's my daily mantra
Absolved of Office Responsibilities
Beating the traffic jam
Calming effect on my brain and body
Done with mundane routines
Elevated status - FTH (Full time housewife) as opposed to FTE (Full time employee)
Free from the shackles of impossible bosses and employers
Growing richer emotionally and spiritually
Husband appreciates me more
Irresistably happy
Jumping for joy
Kaleidoscopic view of life
Langushing happily at home
Motherly touch for my four precious kids
No more stress, no more depression
Outrageously upbeat about life
Pampering my family to the hilt
Que sera sera, whatever will be will be
Reeling in comfort and security
Simply fantastic
Thank you Allah for granting my wishes to retire before I turn 50
Utterly blissful new life
Valuable treasures to cherish and love at home
Would I want it any differently? Absolutely Not!
Xtra attention now showered on the family and more time for myself
Yesterday was history - the future will shine brightly
Zealousness is the order of the day, in fact, that's my daily mantra
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Teh Tarik
3 September 2009
For some unfathomable reason, I've been dying to drink teh tarik ("pulled/stretched tea") the last one week, not just at any mamak shop, but at Q-Bistro, Bandar Permaisuri. I've been bugging my husband to take me, and finally, today, he relented.
After performing the Tarawih, my 2 sons, hubby and I drove to Q-Bistro at around 10:00 p.m. People would have wondered what was so great about drinking teh tarik, in particular at Q-Bistro. Well, I must admit that the teh tarik here is quite superb.
When you tell the waiters that you'd liked it less sweet, they would acquiesce, unlike many other eateries, as they just won't bother pandering to your request. And the portion of tea and milk here are just right, and it's brewed to the right heat.
For me, when someone orders hot drink, the drink has to be piping hot, not lukewarm as the taste tends to be compromised when it's no longer piping hot.
I've always wondered, why anyone in their right mind would want to put so much sugar particularly since not only is sugar hazardous to our health, it also does not come free. But, in Malaysia, more often than not, sugar is dispensed in abundance, not just in tea, but in all other beverages, and also cakes/cookies/kuehs. It's simply disgusting and repelling!
And coming back to the teh tarik that was finally placed on my table, I savoured it sip by sip and let the taste spread slowly in my mouth. Gosh, it's so good. Maybe it's the fasting month, maybe, I've gone crazy. But teh tarik had never tasted so good like today.
BTW, I forgot to mention that whenever I consumed anything which is caffeineted, I would have a sleepless nite. The caffeine would keep me awake the entire night, but who cares. If I can have one of the best teh tarik which I've been dying to savour the last one week, it's worth the while being awake. Then again, as I'm retired, sleep would be a foregone conclusion tomorrow morning. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............................
For some unfathomable reason, I've been dying to drink teh tarik ("pulled/stretched tea") the last one week, not just at any mamak shop, but at Q-Bistro, Bandar Permaisuri. I've been bugging my husband to take me, and finally, today, he relented.
After performing the Tarawih, my 2 sons, hubby and I drove to Q-Bistro at around 10:00 p.m. People would have wondered what was so great about drinking teh tarik, in particular at Q-Bistro. Well, I must admit that the teh tarik here is quite superb.
When you tell the waiters that you'd liked it less sweet, they would acquiesce, unlike many other eateries, as they just won't bother pandering to your request. And the portion of tea and milk here are just right, and it's brewed to the right heat.
For me, when someone orders hot drink, the drink has to be piping hot, not lukewarm as the taste tends to be compromised when it's no longer piping hot.
I've always wondered, why anyone in their right mind would want to put so much sugar particularly since not only is sugar hazardous to our health, it also does not come free. But, in Malaysia, more often than not, sugar is dispensed in abundance, not just in tea, but in all other beverages, and also cakes/cookies/kuehs. It's simply disgusting and repelling!
And coming back to the teh tarik that was finally placed on my table, I savoured it sip by sip and let the taste spread slowly in my mouth. Gosh, it's so good. Maybe it's the fasting month, maybe, I've gone crazy. But teh tarik had never tasted so good like today.
BTW, I forgot to mention that whenever I consumed anything which is caffeineted, I would have a sleepless nite. The caffeine would keep me awake the entire night, but who cares. If I can have one of the best teh tarik which I've been dying to savour the last one week, it's worth the while being awake. Then again, as I'm retired, sleep would be a foregone conclusion tomorrow morning. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz............................
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Ayah, A Piece of Me Died the Day You Died
2 September 2009
Ayah, the day your heart stopped, the day you breathed your last breath, that was the day my heart broke. It was shattered to pieces.
Something so hard
goes straight to the soul;
it seems impossible to get over
and my heart is left with a big hole.
I'm trying to be happy, wearing a smile;
but I'm dying inside.
The world seems to be fading,
and I just want to run and hide.
Everywhere I go I see your face,
and realize how much I miss you;
and on the day you died
a piece of me died too.
goes straight to the soul;
it seems impossible to get over
and my heart is left with a big hole.
I'm trying to be happy, wearing a smile;
but I'm dying inside.
The world seems to be fading,
and I just want to run and hide.
Everywhere I go I see your face,
and realize how much I miss you;
and on the day you died
a piece of me died too.
Another Quiet Day On the Home Front
2 September 2009
Today is another quiet day at the dining table in my house as my husband had to attend a buka puasa do at UPM mosque. Khairil (my second son) skips buka puasa at home for the 3rd consecutive day as he's busy at work. So it was just me, Khairul (my eldest son) and Khairi (my youngest son) to savour my home-cooked dishes.
This would be the year I would break a record in whipping up daily home-cooked buka puasa dishes for my family. Since I settled down the last 26 years, I seldom get a chance to cook, particularly during the fasting month as I have always been busy with work. Now that I'm retired, here I am, all gung-ho to sharpen my culinary skills to the hilt. And I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Earlier this morning, I went for my 2nd physiotherapy at HUKM for my multiple slipped disc at the neck area (due to a car accident in 2004) and lumbar injury (due to a fall I had two years ago). For some strange reason, the physiotherapy did not really ease the spasm and I'm sill in pain. I hope the pain will go away and allow me a proper night sleep. The spasm had caused me to have sleepless nights the last couple of days.
I pray to Allah for the pain to go away....
Today is another quiet day at the dining table in my house as my husband had to attend a buka puasa do at UPM mosque. Khairil (my second son) skips buka puasa at home for the 3rd consecutive day as he's busy at work. So it was just me, Khairul (my eldest son) and Khairi (my youngest son) to savour my home-cooked dishes.
This would be the year I would break a record in whipping up daily home-cooked buka puasa dishes for my family. Since I settled down the last 26 years, I seldom get a chance to cook, particularly during the fasting month as I have always been busy with work. Now that I'm retired, here I am, all gung-ho to sharpen my culinary skills to the hilt. And I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Earlier this morning, I went for my 2nd physiotherapy at HUKM for my multiple slipped disc at the neck area (due to a car accident in 2004) and lumbar injury (due to a fall I had two years ago). For some strange reason, the physiotherapy did not really ease the spasm and I'm sill in pain. I hope the pain will go away and allow me a proper night sleep. The spasm had caused me to have sleepless nights the last couple of days.
I pray to Allah for the pain to go away....
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
" Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilahi Raaji'uun".
1 September 2009
But that's not what it really means.
Do you REALLY & TRULY understand these words
and their implications in a Muslim's life?
In fact, YOU are not YOURS.
He will bless you with a precious child that you love dearly
and then He may take it away.
The Owner came and took it back.
They are a trust from Allah,
a loan to you,
to see how you respond to these gifts
from Allah and how you use them.
She knew that whatever she has, is not truly hers.
' They (i.e. Abu Talha and his wife)
had nine sons
and all of them became reciters of the Quran
(by heart). '
(Bukhaari).
They are those on who (descend) blessings from Allah
and mercy
and they are the once that receive guidance.'
(al-Baqarah: 155).
^^^^^^^ALFATIHAH^^^^^^^
" Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilahi Raaji'uun".
We often say this statement when someone dies.
Also some of us may say this sentence when they lose something,
suffer a setback or harm.
But do you know what it means?
suffer a setback or harm.
But do you know what it means?
Everyone knows that it obviously means 'To Allah we belong and to Him is our return.'
But that's not what it really means.
Do you REALLY & TRULY understand these words
and their implications in a Muslim's life?
It simply means whatever we have is not really ours.
It belongs to Allah.
It belongs to Allah.
Take a look around you, everything you see,
all that you have and all that there is in you,
on you, around you belongs to Allah, alone.
all that you have and all that there is in you,
on you, around you belongs to Allah, alone.
It is Allah Who has given you all the property
and goods you possess,
and that He is the true Owner of them all.
and goods you possess,
and that He is the true Owner of them all.
So the cars that you own,
the houses that you live in,
the businesses you possess all truly belong to Allah.
the houses that you live in,
the businesses you possess all truly belong to Allah.
The kids that He blessed you with,
the health that He gave you,
the time that He has allowed you to be in, are all Allah's property.
the health that He gave you,
the time that He has allowed you to be in, are all Allah's property.
Even the bodies we live in
and the life that we have belongs to Allah alone.
and the life that we have belongs to Allah alone.
'And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth'
(Surah Al-Imraan:180).
'The kingdom of the heavens and the earth
and everything in them belongs to Allah.
(Surah Al-Imraan:180).
'The kingdom of the heavens and the earth
and everything in them belongs to Allah.
'He has power over all things.'
( Surat al-Ma'ida: 120).
'Say: 'To Allah belongs the East and the West' (Surah al-Baqarah:142.
( Surat al-Ma'ida: 120).
'Say: 'To Allah belongs the East and the West' (Surah al-Baqarah:142.
Since everything belongs to Allah,
then we have to include even our souls in that list.
then we have to include even our souls in that list.
The very souls that we think of as our "self";
our "nafs"; our "being" that very thing that distinguishes you
from the rest of the world, belongs to Allah.
our "nafs"; our "being" that very thing that distinguishes you
from the rest of the world, belongs to Allah.
It's not yours.
In fact, YOU are not YOURS.
You belong to Allah.
And this is the essence of the concept of slavery to Allah in Islam.
And since He is the true Possessor of everything,
and everything is His property,
He allots what He wills to whomever He wills…..
and then He takes it away.
and everything is His property,
He allots what He wills to whomever He wills…..
and then He takes it away.
After all, it was Allah's to begin with.
So He may give you some things
and then take it back after a while..
and then take it back after a while..
He will bless you with a precious child that you love dearly
and then He may take it away.
He will grant you money, honour and status
and then He may take it away.
and then He may take it away.
He will give you youth, vitality and health
and then surely He will take it away.
and then surely He will take it away.
In fact everything you have will only be with you for a very short while.
And then the Owner will claim His Right.
So when Allah does reclaim what was rightfully His,
So when Allah does reclaim what was rightfully His,
WHY MOURN OUR LOSSES?
Just like a friend who lends you his book.
And then after a few days, he wants it back and you give it back to him.
No regrets, no sorrow and no questions asked.
And then after a few days, he wants it back and you give it back to him.
No regrets, no sorrow and no questions asked.
Similarly, if Allah takes back some of His blessings upon you for some reason,
so be it.
so be it.
Say Alhamdulillaah.
Don't grieve.
Be patient.
Submit to the will of Allah,
being pleased with His decision for you.
Be patient.
Submit to the will of Allah,
being pleased with His decision for you.
For surely He will only do what is best for you.
The Owner came and took it back.
Remember that you're not the real owner.
You were NEVER the real owner to begin with.
You only had everything
because it was Allah
who gave it to you in the first place.
because it was Allah
who gave it to you in the first place.
If If He didn't give it to you,
you wouldn't have had it in any way.
In fact, you couldn't have had it.
you wouldn't have had it in any way.
In fact, you couldn't have had it.
Remember, man enters into this world empty handed
and leaves it empty handed.
and leaves it empty handed.
Remember, that everything we have,
all the blessings we enjoy, are gifts from the Almighty Allah.
all the blessings we enjoy, are gifts from the Almighty Allah.
Gifts that we enjoy for a limited period
until He takes them away whenever He deems fit.
until He takes them away whenever He deems fit.
They are a trust from Allah,
a loan to you,
to see how you respond to these gifts
from Allah and how you use them.
In the obedience of the Almighty,
thanking Him and worshipping Him
or to the disobedience
to the One Who gave then to you in the first place.
thanking Him and worshipping Him
or to the disobedience
to the One Who gave then to you in the first place.
Take note of the words of the Prophet
(Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)
on the two occasion of the death of his son, Ibraahim:
(Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)
on the two occasion of the death of his son, Ibraahim:
'Our eyes are filled with tears,
our hearts with grief,
but we say nothing with our lips
except that which pleases Allah....
our hearts with grief,
but we say nothing with our lips
except that which pleases Allah....
Verily, to Allah we belong,
and to Him we return.'
(Bukhaari).
and to Him we return.'
(Bukhaari).
And we all know the famous incidence
about the companion Abu Talha and his wife
when one of the sons died
and Abu Talha was not at home.
about the companion Abu Talha and his wife
when one of the sons died
and Abu Talha was not at home.
She washed and shrouded him
and when Abu Talha came home
and asked about his son, she said,
'The child is quiet
and I hope he is in peace….'
(Bukhaari).
and when Abu Talha came home
and asked about his son, she said,
'The child is quiet
and I hope he is in peace….'
(Bukhaari).
Subhanallaah….such patience!
And such Iman in the statement
'Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi Raaji'uun'.
'Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi Raaji'uun'.
She truly understood its meaning
and the affect it should have on her life as a Muslimah,
submitting to him
and being pleased with whatever He has decreed for her.
and the affect it should have on her life as a Muslimah,
submitting to him
and being pleased with whatever He has decreed for her.
She knew that whatever she has, is not truly hers.
Rather, it is Allah'
and He took back
whatever He owns at its appointed time.
and He took back
whatever He owns at its appointed time.
And it is because of this Iman so strong,
this understanding,
that the Prophet
(Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)
made doa for them
and Allah blessed them immensely.
this understanding,
that the Prophet
(Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam)
made doa for them
and Allah blessed them immensely.
' They (i.e. Abu Talha and his wife)
had nine sons
and all of them became reciters of the Quran
(by heart). '
(Bukhaari).
'Be sure we will test you with something of fear and hunger,
some loss in goods or lives,
but give glad tidings to those who are steadfast,
who say when afflicted with calamity:
some loss in goods or lives,
but give glad tidings to those who are steadfast,
who say when afflicted with calamity:
'To Allah we belong and to him is our return.'
They are those on who (descend) blessings from Allah
and mercy
and they are the once that receive guidance.'
(al-Baqarah: 155).
The Prophet (PBUH) said
'Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse'.
'Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse'.
^^^^^^^ALFATIHAH^^^^^^^
September Poser
1 September 2009
Life goes by in a flash, in the blink of an eye, another month is gone. And September beckons, and before you knew it, you will bid goodbye to another year and welcome a new one.
Another September
If you still remember
Things were different last September
Leaving these rainy days aside
Some people were still here with us
Some people dear to us
Some others whom we hated
Another September could only bring some change
Some things in our lives we have to rearrange
Some feeling between us of strange
We become strangers
We become silent
We share our silence
And we are separated by the silence
Between us
Another September
May bring to me other dear people
And a new way to see life
Another September
Will lock and hide somewhere
Last September’s memories
and bring with it a new beginning
Places I’ve been to
Last September
I’ve not set foot there
This other September
I ran away
Towards new ones
Last September is a dream
Memories of times gone
This September is reality
Life being lived at the moment now
Anukka D....
Things were different last September
Leaving these rainy days aside
Some people were still here with us
Some people dear to us
Some others whom we hated
Another September could only bring some change
Some things in our lives we have to rearrange
Some feeling between us of strange
We become strangers
We become silent
We share our silence
And we are separated by the silence
Between us
Another September
May bring to me other dear people
And a new way to see life
Another September
Will lock and hide somewhere
Last September’s memories
and bring with it a new beginning
Places I’ve been to
Last September
I’ve not set foot there
This other September
I ran away
Towards new ones
Last September is a dream
Memories of times gone
This September is reality
Life being lived at the moment now
Anukka D....
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