Friday, December 07, 2007

jesus loves u

This morning, I was on the way to work, resting my eyes and taking a breather before the busy – ness and chaos of the day starts, when…

“excuse me, miss…jesus is the son of god. jesus loves you.” A woman, smiled and handed me her card and some stuff I have yet to open and read. Her card read “evangelist.”

I was thinking…what should i say? Should I tell her off? In the end, I let it go (i admit, may not be the best reaction) coz I didn’t want to be confrontational early in the morning and thought too much of the different scenarios that could happen. By that time, she alighted already la.

But, in case any of us experience this in future, below could be some suggestions:

If you have 1 minute…

“You know, I actually believe in Jesus too. I believe he is a prophet of God. And God loves you.”

If you have 3 minutes …

“You know, I actually believe in Jesus too. But I believe he is a prophet of God and NOT His son. How can God have a son when He is God??? Isn’t He after all the Almighty God who created us and wouldn’t resemble any of His creations in any way??”

If you have more than 3 minutes (and the English translation of the quran at hand) …

“You know, I actually believe in jesus too. But I believe he is a prophet of God and NOT His son. How can God have a son when He is God??? Isn’t He after all the Almighty God who created us and wouldn’t resemble any of His creations in any way?? Why don’t you read these verses from a chapter named Maryam, or better know to you as Mary?”


other suggestions, anyone???

by the way, i realised that the book i was reading, "the story of god" was on my lap. maybe she thought that i am a restless soul searching for God. anyway, i just went for a public lecture by the archbishop of canterbury on religious diversity and social unity last night - how interesting.

Friday, November 23, 2007

.: Qurban, anyone??? :.

Good place to qurban...

The daging also goes to an area where christianisation is going on...Good to help...Went there 2 years ago - beautiful place, in case anyone interested to go la...






Thursday, November 22, 2007

.: work sweet work :.

i was looking around my workspace the other day and realised that it is quite pretty, made up of many pretty things.





its slightly changed now - more organised, as i become a tad more OCD-ish (Obsessive Complulsive Disorder) after a recent course on Effective Project Management Skills. neater, prettier, with more additions...i should take a picture of the whole work space from varying angles...


work sweet work...

.: thursday FALL :.

i was walking to work, thinking about life, singing praises to God, thinking about men's cruelty - which i wanted to blog about after bawling my eyes with tears watching "innocent voices" late last night.

feeling fortunate that i am alive. i was contented.

then i suddenly tripped over the steps which i have been climbing on my way to work for almost 2 years now, and at the same second, dropped my icy mocha soya which happens to be my current craze.

innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun. i told myself, its ok. we all fall.

i dont know why i fell but there must be a good reason to it. maybe it is a sign from God, telling me i will one day die. How ironic since i was reading about death on my way to work.

maybe, i fell so that i can pick myself up again.

the morning, despite the fall has not turned out bad at all. i managed to save 3/4 of my icy mocha soya.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

.: over chocolate fondue :.

i havent been thinking much; its worrying - i try to console myself with reading "intelligent" books on the way to and fro work. just preoccupied with daily nothings and great logistical decisions. but i thought, since my boss is on leave and i have been a tad too efficient these past few days, i'd start the discipline to WRITE on my blog (how ironic).

it was interesting that we met yesterday - the 3 of us, social work grads, lamenting on the politics of the trade, working life and reminiscing about the times we spent in school - one of them complained that i was too fast in walking - since she is short, one stride of mine is equal to a few of hers. And she wears HEELS, for goodness sake! amazed at how we had continued to be friends, against all odds. she was the control freak and i was the total opposite.

then, we realised working life has changed us. she has learnt to become more last minute while i learnt to be less last minute. another friend said she had changed for the worse - no longer a good listener (after listening daily to people's problems, what would you expect?). we arent as idealistic, arent as lofty. more real. more mean.

the hazard of the job.

but we are still enjoying it.

may i go on to a job that i am passionate about. more passionate than i am now. aameen

ps: bloss, we need to go orchard and take pictures - its so pretty! and no, i am not a promoter of consumerism.

oh yes, in case you are wondering why the title - we had chocolate fondue at swensens!

Saturday, October 27, 2007

:: SYAHIDnya seorang teman seperjuangan::

“kalau tak sempat jumpa kat dunia, kita jumpa kat jannah eh?”

Silent pause. Then, a concerted, “aameen, insya allah.”

Such were the frequent endings to our long distance conversations, for sometimes being miles apart, it felt almost impossible that we would meet again. Little did we know that it would be for real – much too soon...for most.

11 years ago, we met in a camp that was life changing (ok, not exactly but eye opening enough). More apt to say that it was a camp that would, in God’s own mysterious ways change our life courses. We had our pre-‘converted’ days, our weaknesses. We floated in and out. We travelled together, literally and figuratively speaking, thru life phases. There was a tie that bound us – the tie of ukhuwwah, a beautiful friendship. We’ve had our fall outs, often due to differences in opinions but always, just like our last conversation during ramadhan,
“mintak maaf k. sekarang kita 0-0.”

He has touched the lives of many and would continually do so – prolonging his amal daripada ilmu yang dimanfaatkan.

I pray that I will always remember him; his raspy voice, his smile and laughter and the knowledge he has imparted.
I pray that I will remember his constant longing for SYAHID

“I rasa I tak tahan nanti kena hisab ah, mar…No other way but SYAHID.”

I pray that I will remember his determination against all odds, everything-also-can attitude, and often to my disgruntled disbelief, “fiq, u biar benar?”

From budak hingusan at ITE to Guntor, from Guntor to Syria (with only as much as to cover his one way flight ticket), from Syria to short stint in London, purely to seek His ‘Ilm…I was impressed.

" Mar, yang u risau kenapa? Kumpul jek duit untuk flight. Then, tawakkal ilallah. Betulkan niat and just GO…”

And off he went. I should’ve followed for thenafter he would constantly make me jealous by rattling on and on about how happy he was in Syria and how I was missing out on life in seeking pure knowledge – not to mention my horrendous Arabic which he would NEVER laugh at (he would just snigger la) for he remembered how difficult it was to learn arabic from zero.

* * * * *

And at times, he would wonder who would turn up at his funeral

“Yelah, siapa nak tengok I, bacakan I Yaa- Sin…Siapalah I ni…nak cakap lawa, tak lawa, setakat harapkan manis je.” (Yes, he was hilariously funny and able to brighten one’s bad day)

If he had known the throngs of people who turned up at an nur mosque to solat jenazah (the prayer hall was full), people from his past and present who do’akan, who witnessed his burial; he wouldn’t have had to worry.

A few months back, while asking him about his marriage, which he was so looking forward to …

“mar, I tak tau ah but I rasa macam tak sampai.”

After which, I retorted and went on a whole rhetoric about how suicide bombing is haram and how it is not jihad and etc. I was afraid he was influenced by weird ideologies. He assured me he was still sane and firmly grounded.

Little did we know. Little did I know.

Little did I know, that I would be reciting the Yaasin by his ears in his last hours – reminding him of Allah’s promise to the Believers

Little did I know that I would be reciting the do’a from the book he lent to me for safekeeping while he studies in Syria:

Narrated ‘Auf bin Malik, Allah’s Messenger prayed on a dead body and I memorized from his supplication,
“O Allah, forgive him, show him mercy, grant him security, pardon him, grant him a noble provision and a spacious lodging, wash him with water, snow, and ice and hail, purify him from sins as the white garment is purified from filth, give him a better abode in place of his present one, a better family in place of his present one, and a better spouse in place of his present one, put him in Paradise and save him from the trial in the grave and the punishment of Hell.” – reported by Muslim, from The Book of Funerals, Bulughul Maram-

May my brother be placed amongst the syuhada’ and anbiya’ whom he was so looking forward to meet.

And yes, insya allah, we will meet in Jannah, just like in our constant do’a.
* * * * *
Below are just some pictures highlighting the short but full life he led...



playing football in damsyiq!

rafiq in syria - one of the reasons he enjoyed syria was the multifaceted muslim community - highlighting the truely global Islam. the child according to him was of euro descent.

Rafiq in London! his first snow experience kot...

Monday, October 01, 2007

.: azma's wedding pics :.

azma's wedding pics - of course there's a LOT MORE (i had the opportunity to take loads of pics coz i was the bridesmaid la)...but that would take ages to upload anywhere and i dun have the luxury of time or patience nowadays...(ps: yati, i nanti burnkan the rest in a cd for u?)

this is way overdue but congrats (again!) to the both 'azma & fir...may ur marriage be constantly blessed by allah s.w.t, insya allah (hari baik, bulan baik ni, mesti do'a banyak banyak)...

other than that, tonight marks the 20th day of ramadhan - may these remaining days brings us closer to allah, may He accept our deeds and forgive all our sins and may we be given the nikmat of life to meet the next ramadhan...






the last one is my personal favourite... =) so sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet...



Tuesday, September 18, 2007

self esteem

i sometimes get my self esteem from my nephews and niece.

me: hamim, is mak busu pretty or not?

hamim: of course la!

me: is mak busu fat?

hamim: of course... *thinks again* NOT!

good answer. thank u hamim.

eNergy

colleague: marlina, i want to ask u something. i am very curious u know. how come u look more energetic during fasting month?

me: I do?

colleague: yeah, how come not having food has reverse effect on u?

kwang kwang kwang.

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

.: Trapped! :.


Twice in a month, I’ve had bad experience with lifts.

No, I am not talking about lifts that take ages to reach the floor or the lift that doesn’t take more than 5 people without screaming a flat “tet…tet”, signalling people to rush out (like the one at home)…

I am talking about lifts that went berserk, or those that suddenly stop dead in their tracks (a figure of speech – they were never alive in the first place)

Incident 1 – 120807. sunday
Location: marine parade
Occasion: Friend’s wedding Reception (which I am supposed to blog abt – still in draft)
In the lift: The Bride & Groom, The bridesmaids (me and yati), The Groom’s mother, The Mak Andam a.k.a make up artist, The Photographer.

The lift went up & came down in a single, jerky motion. The numbers on the screen went up all the way to the 15th floor. We were still on the second floor.

With hearts in the mouth, we were grateful the lift door opened, and we were safe. Took the other lift.

Truth: It all happened so fast, I didn’t really realise what was happening. The near-death experience bonded us further.

Incident 2 – 260807. sunday
Location: changi road
Occasion: going for a meeting
In the lift: Me & 3 other brothers

Went into the lift, happily pressed “2”. Suddenly the lift stopped, no ventilation, everything went still. We pressed the bell for help. 1 of the brothers started singing & was told to keep quiet by another coz he was using up the already-limited oxygen faster. I would’ve laughed if not for the fact I was trapped in the lift. Worse, the lift was shielded. NO RECEPTION. None of us could call out. We pressed the bell for help. No one came to rescue.

Confession: I almost cried coz I was becoming claustrophobic & it was getting warm. Looking at the floor space, I thought it’d be crammed for all of us to sit down. Then, the frightening thought that we could be stuck in the small space for hours without much air, food and water, crossed my mind. I thought about having to solat maghrib in the lift, about having to do tayammum. Worse, if u need to go toilet urgently. Rest assured, they were NOT happy thoughts.

Truth: We were stuck for I think, a total of 5 –10 mins (or less).
the same person who sang came up with a smart idea to force the door open. It was surprisingly easy. Almost kicked myself for not reading the sign that there was some maintenance power outage thingy (I was laughing looking at how some words were spelt wrongly instead)

The SHORT wait was LONG enough. It was the uncertainty of the wait that got to me.


Ni belum tunggu kena hisab at padang masyhar. May Allah protect us from that, insya allah.

Friday, August 17, 2007

work - home

is it normal?

to think of going home while on the way to work?

Thursday, August 16, 2007

moral support

ok, if you have a whole year to pay back the days that you've missed your puasa/saum/fast, when do you do it?

the month just before fasting month! apparently, i have been procrastinating (i need to deal with this) till i cant procrastinate longer...teruk kan.

but thats not the point of this entry...in view of my fasting, my chinese-malaysian colleague has been extra concerned. this morning...

YP: marlina, are u ok or not? u've been fasting right.
Me: Yah, I am good lah
YP: U feeling cold? (coz i was wearing my jacket la)
Me: yeah, a bit. maybe because i am fasting (its actually raining heavily)
YP: I think i will fast la, for one day with you - to give u moral support.

kwang kwang kwang. yes, my colleagues are concerned that i am not eating.




Monday, August 13, 2007

Panda eYEs & praYer Place

It has been an eventFUL (will update soon) pre-weekend and weekend, with late nights and assignments (both school & work).

When I went to teach at 8am on Sunday, my primary 2 student:

She : teacher marlina, what’s wrong with your eyes?
Me : huh? Why?
She : they look different.
Me : Oh

Dalam hatiku, must be the panda eyes. I am scaring off my students.


* * * * *





Tonight, my previous department colleagues are having dinner (like the good ol’ days) in celebration of our boss’ promotion.

Once we decided on dinner (at 7pm),

Colleague S: marlina, you need to pray right? Aiyah, where you want to pray?

Me: the place is near the mosque

Uncle J (another colleague): anywhere also can pray, right?

Me: yeah, see, uncle J clever.


Thus, from wherever thou mayest come forth, turn thy face [in prayer] towards the Inviolable House of Worship-for. Behold, this [commandment] comes in truth from thy Sustainer; and God is not unaware of what you do. 2:149


ps: tried to look for a verse in the quran; something about the earth as a place for prayer (or is it a hadith?). Anybody who knows, please help. Thanks.




Monday, August 06, 2007

when the cats are off, the mice comes out to play...

it is post-sunday. management is on 2 days retreat. and what do people do when their bosses are away?


At 3.51pm, I was way beyond sleepy. most of my colleagues were.


i tried 2 cups of coffee. we tried to take a fruit eating break with whoever is left on the floor i.e. less than 10 people.


then, i remembered.


its been a looong time since Ive blogged - somebody commented, "blog pun dah berhabuk".

so, decided that i shall just do something different from the usual routine of "perah otak" to put forth some papers to some atas people, and trying to comprehend stacks of otherwise meaningless papers (yes, we are killing trees) and make meaning out of mere numbers (read: statistics)



anyways, in relation to mai sb's latest entry http://anewlifeahead.blogspot.com/ (u so sweet - so touching), i realised i do have a picture of 4 of us, MINUS HER





somehow, we cant get everyone at the same time, at the same place. shall we resort to superimposing our photos?


i wanna canoe/climb/cycle. i wanna walk. i wanna break free.


Friday, June 15, 2007

.: reminder :.

I have been sharing with my close colleagues about Islam; halal food, solat, fasting month, hari raya, modest dressing, stand on certain issues…and etc

And so, I’ve realised that maybe I have been too effective in my sharing.

You see, I was wearing blouse and pants yesterday. And my non-muslim colleague went, “ marlina, I think this baju a bit wrong – show off your figure”

That disturbed me. What led her to say what she said? I thought about it yesterday. I thought about it today.

1. I don’t think the blouse is super sexy
2. Maybe it is because I always wear something loose/long to work.
3. I don’t have much of a figure (but that’s besides the point)

I asked her again today just to clarify & be doubly sure (amounting to a decision as to whether I need to give that currently-one-of-my-favourite-blouses of mine away)

Me: Yesterday, my baju really a bit wrong ah?

She: I think it was the tudung. Not like today.

Me: But yesterday’s tudung and today’s tudung is the same size mah!

She: hhhmmmmm. I think yesterday you pinned it wrongly. That’s why never cover properly.

Me: ok.


I smiled. I don’t have to give away the blouse. And yes, even a non-muslim can be a wonderful reminder.



Monday, May 21, 2007

METTA

In one of those usual playful banters in the car with 4 children & 3 adults

Hazim: Hakim, stop it ah! You very naughty, I send you to metta school then you know!

Hakim: bleargh!

Me: Metta School? Only for special children (read: e.g. low IQ, with learning disability etc), right? Hazim, don’t be mean ok?

Hazim: Hakim should go there!

Hakim: bleargh!

My bro: yeah, don’t make fun of children like that k. They’d probably get to go to heaven first – don’t need to count deeds you know.

Hazim & Hakim: I want to go to Metta school

Me: I don’t think getting to heaven got anything to do with the school you attend. You are normal mah.

Kwang kwang kwang

Sunday, May 20, 2007

Mortality

I was supposed to blog about KL. But decided not yet, not after reading in the news. An acquaintance passed away in an accident on a mountain yesterday. A mountain I climbed TWICE.


I can’t seem to get over it, ever since a friend sms-ed me yesterday about the news. No, not because I am close to this acquaintance of mine. He was after all, just someone I knew while I travelled along my educational path. But the fact that I KNOW him, makes it so much closer to home.

Past week’s reports about the death of the 2 NSmen in Taiwan, hit by a plane while in a STORE & the woman who was hit by a falling tree, struck a chord in me. Unfortunate incidences, you may say. But I believe they are but ENGINEERED. Engineered by none other but the Almighty.

We all know we are going to die. But we seem to keep forgetting.

Mortality strikes.


It is God [alone that has this power - He] who causes all human beings to die at the time of their [bodily] death, and [causes to be as dead], during their sleep, those that have not yet died: thus, He withholds [from life] those upon whom He has decreed death, and lets the others go free for a term set [by Him]. In [all] this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who think!39:42

May the families of those affected be given the strength to pull thru this difficult time, insya allah.


pic: summit at ledang

Sunday, April 22, 2007

What's in a NAME?!


was browsing thru some blogs and found a birthday calculator. there's also a section on what your name means. dont know how my name points to a number or whats the whole mechanism behind it. interesting though.



* * * * *





What Your Name Means

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You entered: Marlina
There are 7 letters in your name.
Those 7 letters total to 32
There are 3 vowels and 4 consonants in your name.

What your first name means:German Female Variant of Madeline 'Woman from Magdala.
English Female Variant of Marlene, derived from Madeline: Woman from Magdala.


Your number is: 5

The characteristics of #5 are: Expansiveness, visionary, adventure, the constructive use of freedom.

The expression or destiny for #5:
The number 5 Expression endows with the wonderful characteristic of multi-talents and versatility. You can do so many things well. The tone of the number 5 is constructive freedom, and in your drive to attain this freedom, you will likely be the master of adaptability and change. You are good at presenting ideas and knowing how to approach people to get what you want. Naturally, this gives you an edge in any sort of selling game and spells easy success when it comes to working with people in most jobs. Your popularity may lead you toward some form of entertainment or amusement. Whatever you do, you are clever, analytical, and a very quick thinker.

If there is too much of the 5 energy in your makeup, you may express some the negative attitudes of the number. Your restless and impatient attitude may keep you from staying with any project for too long. Sometimes you can be rather erratic and scatter yourself and your energies. You have a hard time keeping regular office hours and maintaining any sort of a routine. You tend to react strongly if you sense that your freedom of speech or action is being impaired or restricted in any way. As clever as you are, you may have a tendency to make the same mistakes over and over again because much of your response is glib reaction rather that thoughtful application. You are in a continuous state of flux brought by constantly changing interests.

Your Soul Urge number is: 11

A Soul Urge number of 11 means:
With the 11 Soul Urge, much of your thinking and interests relate to the abstract, the spiritual, and utopian dreams. You are motivated toward idealistic concepts, and the sharing of your ideas and concepts with humanity. This number is not one that is giving in a material or a practical sense, but rather one who desires to help mankind with a more abstract commodity such as religion, spiritualism, occult studies, or even psychic abilities.

If you possess the positive 11 Soul Urge traits, you have a dream of the perfect world; you are highly idealistic and inspirational. Your inner strength and devotion to your beliefs are extremely strong. You have a very good mind that is especially well equipped to handle the higher, more abstract forms of thought.

If there is an excess of 11 energy in your makeup, you may possess some the negative 11 traits. There is a tendency for the 11 to produce considerable amounts of nervous tension which is bought on by a very high level of awareness. You may be too sensitive and overly emotional. In some cases, these sensitivities and emotions are quite repressed, and this tends to add even more to the sense of nervousness in the makeup.

The strong 11 is not a very practical person because of the extreme idealism; often, there is a degree of self-deception present. There is usually a rather fixed idea of right and wrong held by those showing strong 11 traits, and with this very often is a resulting attitude of inflexibility.

Your Inner Dream number is: 3

An Inner Dream number of 3 means:
You dream of artistic expression; writing, painting, music. You would seek to more freely express your inner feeling and obtain more enjoyment from life. You also dream of being more popular, likable, and appreciated.


http://www.paulsadowski.org/Numbers.asp



* * * * *


riding on the same note, when others ask me the meaning of my name, i say, " well, the LIN is supposed to mean gentle and soft. But i guess, the Mar & the Na seems to negate that trait la"

my mum: asyik pegi camp aje, panjat gunung la, tak tau duduk diam ke.

(brief trans:cannot keep still ah?)


me (smiles cheekily): "siapa suruh ibu taruk mar & na? taruk Lin aje dah cukup."



ok, so at least my family tries to instil some "gentleness" by calling me "Lin" at home.



So, whats in a name?

Friday, April 06, 2007

.: KL :.

Have I ever told you (sometimes I wonder about this "you") that I’ve never really been to KL, except when I was super young, so young that I cant remember anything??? No, not some exotic beach on the caribbean (which would take eons for me to reach). The KL as in KL, which is a 4-6 hr drive from Singapore.

Dont get me wrong (dont think i am a "frog under the husk" trans. from a malay idiom; katak bawah tempurung) - I’ve been to the outskirts - Taman Negara to trek, Bangi (more than once) for some training programme and etc. BUT I’ve never REALLY been to KL as in KL.

I finally went to Bandar Tun Abdul Razak (I think so) recently (ok, not so recent. some time in feb this year), for some 2 days meeting/training programme with some sisters and brothers.

I think I spent a GRAND total of an hour (lebih kurang) in pudu raya (petaling street pun tak sempat) while waiting for the bus home. Ok, I am definitely looking forward to my next KL trip (this time with no business/meeting agenda). This time, in KL as in KL itself.




So, here’s the closest I’ve been to KL & the twin towers (with the aid of 12x zoom camera – kesian kan?????)


During time out from meeting, we went to the tasik/lake nearby, ada pulak rainbow. masya allah. It was pretty indeed. Subhanallah.

ok, i am rather proud of this. it was my first time (sort of) in KL and i took the LRT ALONE!!! ALL ALONE to pudu raya. (of course, there were other commuters)

sunlight on KL. view from the train. It was a pretty sight.

side track sikit: And so, i was with my bagpack, alone, taking pictures. There was an african guy with his friends.

Him: Taking pictures for a school project?

Me: (u mean, i look that young??) No. I am actually from Singapore. Blah blah blah.

he was there to study. singapore, he said, was too expensive.

kwang kwang kwang.

.: desktop tagged :.

Blossom tagged. still dont understand the concept. ok, maybe like playing touch rugby. But anyway, here's the long - overdued desktop image.






Resolution: 1280 x 800

Picture taken: on one fine evening, on the way to arabic class, from blossom's car, at a red traffic light just outside wisma indah, masjid kassim.

More about picture: Love the sunset 'lighting' and the juxtapositioning of the crane (that's what its called kan?) and mortally- arranged streetlamps against the naturally-pretty sunset light and frame of trees. I think I might be reading too much into the picture.

Laptop/LCD or CRT: My laptop named Dellia (pronounced is d -li -a) a.k.a Dellila (pronounced as d-lie-la). even laptops have identity crises.


Wallpaper since : quite some time ago. cant remember exactly when.


Something interesting: waktu tgh print screen tu, hujan gerimis happened to be playing and ter-captured sekali in the printed screen. heh. okla, reminds me; i love rain.






.: Perfect ImPERFECTIONS :.

I couldn’t stop staring at a rather beautiful and attractive lady with an equally gorgeous boyfriend/fiancĂ©/husband while on the way home from work. It has been a few weeks or is it months but visuals of her continue to linger in my mind. Anyway, I thought that the lady would’ve been more attractive with fuller lips, a broader smile. And I thought, she might have thought the same every other time she examines herself in the mirror.

We always want something more – to have bigger eyes, a smaller waist, a slimmer figure, to be taller/shorter. We always harp on our imperfections.

Truth is, we are created as the best creations – having the ability to discern, to have integrity, to rise above circumstances, to rise above others.

Lord, let us be humbled by our imperfections (not blinded by them) in our strive to attain perfection.


Verily, We create man in the best conformation

and thereafter We reduce him to the lowest of low

excepting only such as attain to faith and do good works: and theirs shall be a reward unending!

~The Noble Quran, Surah Tin 95:2-4 ~



Picture taken at the side of a canal/longkang. thought that the pretty flowers amongst the mess, dirt n chaos in the background was poignant.


.: ALLERGY :.

Another episode with my seven years old nephew

Me: Hakim, can you please close the door?
Hakim: Nooooo…
Me: Why can’t you just close the door?
Hakim: (puts on a cute face) Because I am ALLERGIC to doors.






Monday, April 02, 2007

.: Post – Sunday :.

Last Monday, I had a headache.

It’s Monday morning, again. And I am having a headache, again.

Sharon, my dearest colleague thinks that my headaches had something to do with “Mondays” and so, she came up with a brilliant idea - to call the day, “post-Sunday”.

So smart

Have a good “post-Sunday” everyone. Oh, have a good week ahead – a better week than the last!

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

.: a Father's love :.

Aa'ishah (the Prophet's wife) r.a. reported: "Whenever Fatimah (the Prophet's daughter) came into the room, the Prophet s.a.w would stand up, welcome her, kiss her and offer her his seat, and whenever he came into the room, she would stand up, take his hand , welcome him, kiss him and offer him her seat. When she came to see him during his final illness, he welcomed her & kissed her." - Fath al- Baari, 8/135, Kitaab Al Maghazi, baab maraduhu wa wafatuhu; Abu Dawood, 4/480, Kitaab al-Adab, baab ma jaa' fil-qiyaam -

I just read the above in a book lah. Cant help but to exclaim, " so sweeeeet!!! touching nye..... " (note: the exclamation was silent as i was in the train and didnt really want people to think that i am a nutcase)

ok, so i am blessed. still get the occasional pats and kisses from my dad. and the occasional dances, which will land my mum and sis into a laughing frenzy. alhamdulillah.

:: need to count blessings, again::


Saturday, March 17, 2007

.: here :.

I am here!

i hear korang punya batuk-batuk lah. ampun maaf for not updating my blog & causing great "distress" - i didnt think people actually read my blog la

ive actually started typing out my thoughts that are bugging me incessantly into a word document, which is stuck in my thumbdrive, which is stuck in the usb port in my office computer. my boss decided that we have a life and shoo-ed us off at 8pm last night, so i had to pack up in a hurry.


just to start off the blogging streak, again:

an email reply to a friend who was wondering whether i was still alive (i sometimes go to twilight zone)

indeed i am here

in seeming eternity

a borrowed moment.


itu aje yang saya nak bilang makcik dan pakcik.

Monday, February 05, 2007

.: Blissful Monday :.

i am happy/contented because yesterday:

1. i cleaned my room - more like my table. major achievement.
2. i bought books. and realised i couldve gotten them at half price if my bro bought them at makkah. my bro said they were too heavy to carry since most are hard cover. can darussalam publishing have them in paperback, please? =)
3. i had some time out alone yesterday for about 2 hours - walked from bugis to lavender, and took some pictures along the way
4. i bought pretty coloured pens for notes, & pencils for sketching
5. i almost finished a sketch of hakim (my nephew), which i started a few years ago but never completed
6. i realised that i can still sketch. whether or not the sketch resembles the actual person is another matter. i taught myself to sketch people. school taught me to sketch lady's finger.
7. the children especially 8 month-old mardhiah, were happy with the books i got them. seeing the joy on an innocent baby's face is priceless - definitely more than the price of the book itself. mardhiah hugged the book, even while drinking milk. so cute.

This morning:
8. managed to solat subuh berjemaah with my domestic helper.
9. i didnt feel very sleepy on my way to work in the morning, and thus managed to read my book, " great women of Islam - who were given great news of paradise". inspired.
10. i have been productive at work in the morning. quite.

the above are just some of the things i should be thankful for, within a span of less than a day. ni belum termasuk the rain (yes, i love rain. berapa banyak kali nak bilang dah?!), and EVERYTHING and EVERYONE else created to help me fulfil my purpose & destiny in life. subhanallah.

i think counting blessings is a good practice, although it is a totally - humanly - impossible feat. Totally. (ala nur~)

"For, should you try to count God's blessings, you could never compute them! Behold, God is indeed much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace"
~ An-Nahl 16:18 ~

try, i shall. after all, it is not the product, but the process and outcome, that matters.

:: counting blessings ::

Sunday, January 21, 2007

.: temporary mother :.



26th december 2006. in the car. about 4 a.m.



hazirah: mak busu (youngest aunt), i guess you are going to be our "temporary mother" for now.



me: yeah, i guess so. for one month only.



that was part of a conversation between me and my niece and nephews, during our ride home from the airport, after sending their parents off for hajj - leaving four children in our charge (my bro lives next door so my new found role was a "by-default" one.)



so, that partially explains why i havent been blogging, on top of work, meetings, camps etc and mere "belum-tangkap-mood-ness"(at the rate i am spoiling the bahasa, my sasterawan-uncle would be gravely disappointed).



Being a temporary mother has been rather enjoyable, with its ups and down but i still cant wait for my bro and sis-in-law to come back (this coming tuesday), so that i can tell them rightaway, " you can have your children back." as much as my niece and nephews are smart, intelligent, adorable and totally lovable and huggable...ehem...well, they miss their parents. heh, more like mak busu longing for the time she doesnt have to rush off at 6pm sharp to go home and see to the children's homework and school administrative stuff (i think ive become an expert signing forms, writing letters/sms-ing to teachers and speaking to vice-principals and HODs).



i have since realised that juggling work and family is no mean feat so a new-found-higher (super higher) level of respect to all working mothers. hopefully, by the time i have children i can be a full time home maker who runs some sort of business to supplement the family's income. the business should, by the way, be something i truly enjoy and would benefit the ummah, in one way or another. (hhmmm, social enterprise?)



by the way, while the parents were away on hajj, my nephews decided to fall more than usual and get themselves stitched. hakim had seven stitches on his head a day before his parents went off (and a week before he starts primary one) while hazim just got 4 stitches on his lips last week (my mum's call sent me scurrying to KKH at 4.30pm - grateful for having an understanding boss). getting him to agree to a local anaesthesia (on his lips!!!) was a tricky matter but i quite enjoy seeing him being stitched - no, i am not a sadist, just that ive always been attracted to the medical profession. i havent took a picture of his swollen lips - maybe later tonight.


they are both fine now. alhamdulillah. quite proud of themselves really, comparing the number of stitches.

i will miss the children, and their constant presence around me (yes, i bring them to meetings sometimes since my mum cant cope with all 5 at home), their voice on the phone in the middle of the day, "mak busu, what time are you coming home?", and them running to me (either delighted to see me or to complain on the other bro who doesnt wish to share his toys etc - would miss the former more than the latter) when i come home from work all tired and exhausted.

but i think i am more than glad to take the "mother" hat off for now.

children are great responsibilities. potentials to be unleashed, guided they must be.

may they grow up to be good muslims, serving the community for the sake of allah, insya allah.











.: counting days :.