tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60842481947100893292024-03-06T10:39:33.177+08:00CERITA MAMAElhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-68418107983274432222016-04-22T20:26:00.002+08:002016-07-30T21:16:43.815+08:00ABANG'S GRADUATION.<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I didnt write a single entry in the whole 2015! And today I suddenly have this urge to sit down and write...and whats more ,I am so going to recap the whole year's event (significant ones only) into one single entry!! Ambitious much,huh!! Well, let's see how far it will go, or...how it will not go anywhere!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway...let us begin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The single most important event ( in our family that is) that took place in 2015 was none other than Abang's syahadah ceremony that occurred on 8 and 9th of March, which was just a few days after Abang's 18th birthday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Subhanallah, it was just the most blessed, most emotionally beautiful and peaceful event so far in my life! I cant even begin to describe my feeling on that day... the atmosphere was so serene that I could almost feel that I was actually surrounded by angels. Suffice to say, I wish everyone to be able to experience the same and I did tell all sisters I know having children memorizing the Qur'an to make a point to be there in their kids syahadah ceremony. Alas, that being said, not all madrasahs allow/encourage parents to attend . Alhamdulillah, the madrasah Abang attends was very systematic and efficient as always. They even have a special air-conditioned room with bathroom attached for us, ladies in niqabs especially, to sit and listen , 'tasmeeq' the huffaz's recitations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, as we all know, Qur'an itself is a miracle...and to be able to memorise it is miraculous. Something that is impossible unless Allah chose you to have it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, I was there for two days in a row. On the first day Abang recited 15 juzuks with one mistake towards the end. He began at a relaxed pace, recited melodiously that I began to worry if he couldnt finish the whole 15 juzuks as expected. After 'asar break, Abang picked up the speed, after being advised by his ustadz. Just before asar break was actually the moment Abang stucked, after 'rewinding' quite a few times, the ustadz had to correct him...and it was counted as 1 mistake. They only allow maximum 5 mistakes for all 30 juzuks or you have to do it all over again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> We met up in every solat break, giving Abang hugs and kisses besides words of encouragement, overwhelmed by the surreal feeling, forgetting to ask about Abang physical needs of food and drinks! When Abang finished around 11 that night, we were kissing him goodbye as we prepare to leave for our homestay nearby, he asked me if I have any food with me. He had not eaten anything for the whole day! He appeared so calm and collected that we never thought he spent the little time during every solat /lunch/dinner break to actually browse through the Quran and not eating or resting a bit!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">By calm and collected I meant he was ever so cool when he made any mistake and his friends ( chose by their ustadzs to be observers) tapped on the table to alert him . He then went back to the beginning of that particular ayah and tried to correct himself calmly. Not a note of panic could be detected in his voice. Sometimes he needed to go back quite a few times. But he always managed to get it right except for the one time I mentioned above. I was the one feeling the panic arising and would whole-heartedly pray to Allah to help my son! And Wallahi,, I have never felt our connection so strong before! If at anytime my mind started to wander away, Abang would have some 'glitch'! And I did wander away quite a few times since I was all alone in that room on the first day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh, back to Abang being famished, we quickly asked for permission from the ustadz to go buy some food and come back to give Abang the food. Fuhh...end of day 1.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Day 2 was a lot better. Abang recited in faster mode and I got company, so no sleepiness crept in. A few ladies came and towards the evening more local ladies came to listen in and by Isya', the room was packed. On the men side too. That was apparently a normal situation whenever a syahadah event takes place. People come to get the blessings of the majlis and especially for the khatam qur'an do'a at the end of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And, Subhanallah, just before Isya', Abang recited the last surah, Alhamdulillah thumma Alhamdulillah!! All 30 juzuks with only 1 mistake...Allahu Akbar! Words cant begin to describe our feeling of gratitude to Allah, our indebtedness to all his ustadzs, our appreciation to his friends for their supports and to all our relatives who collectively pray for Abang's success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Speaking of our relatives ( and family friends) , Masya Allah, the event had brought everyone together! We were scattered everywhere in Malaysia and some of us were overseas. Cik Lah and family were performing umrah, C.Tie still resided in Pattaya at that time and some others studying in UK,Egypt and Turkey to name a few. But everyone was tuned to the handphones for updates from Abah in both Mama's and Abah's sides of family group whatsApps. Abah would stream Abang's reciting live ( as much as the apps would allow) as he was sitting near Abang during the whole time. Everyone was so excited and kept pressing for updates! Mak Uda made all her customers who came in to collect stocks listened in and MasyaAllah, some of them got really interested and enquired further of the madrasah and the process and so on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> And when Abang finally read the much-awaited doa, a lengthy ones that he memorised too, everyone was reduced to tears. Tears of happiness, tears of gratitude , tears of joy. Tears of sadness too for I know Tok Ayah Mustafa and Mok Tok would surely love to be here if there were still around. So as Tok Ayah Wahab if he is well enough to make the long journey . Subhanallah , Allah blessed Abang with voice tinged with pathos that his recitation always touch the hearts of most people. On site, both men and ladies room were filled with the sound of people sobbings!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My eyes were all red and swollen!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bottles of water people put in front to get the blessings of 30 juzuks recitation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gifts for all ustadzs</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> We end the night with a small feast for all presents. Alhamdulillah one of the students' parents, a caterer,prepared Nasi Tomato enough for all.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Foohh...its a long post already!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway, so that's one important event...I dont think I can write more today. InsyaAllah I'll try to write again soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the meantime,I hope anybody reading this will make do'a for Abang so that the Qur'an will stay with him forever. His love for it increases everyday and more importantly, he lives his whole life according to its teaching.Indeed, maintaining it is so much more a challenge than memorising it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With it, I end this entry.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">p/s I'm embedding Abang's khatam do'a here...or maybe part of it as it was quite long.</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-41188762607569895132014-06-16T17:00:00.003+08:002014-06-16T17:00:57.986+08:00ERRR...THE UPDATES??<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, here I am again,filling in, for Mama just couldnt bring herself to string a few sentences to oblige her daughter's plead to update this pitiful blog of hers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am not so well myself, to tell the truth. I think age is finally catching up with me. I got this dizzy spell quite regularly now, and it only happens post meals. When they, Mama and Adik , first saw me wobbled , has difficulty in righting myself and finally, fall over, they screamed and then, cried. Typical! They grabbed me, called me baby and hugged me so tight as if I was going to die there and then!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After witnessing a few more episodes of my losing balances, though they are still very concern , they quit screaming, but they continue making lots and lots of fuss over it . Really, I cant understand these two. They call me fatty, lazy bum,sleepyhead and all sorts of degrading names <span style="font-size: x-small;">( none of which describes me ),</span> but at a sight of me being well...just dizzy, they totally lost it!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mama of course, googled away my condition and came up with the diagnosis of Feline Geriatric Vestibular Syndrome. Mouthful huh?<span style="font-size: x-small;">( I especially detest the word geriatric, I'm not that old okay!</span>) At least, its better than being labelled epileptic as she first presumed!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, I tried to tell her that I am okay and I dont have other symptoms that cats with that awful syndrome have, but to no avail. Not until she read and read and read and observed and observed and observed . At one point, she deduced that I eat too fast and scolded me, reminded me of eating ethic of an<i> aristocat.</i> Indeed, I only have these dizzy spell after having meals, never at other times. So, that rules out epilepsy, as well as that mouthful diagnosis! Adik is worse, she thought I am outrightly obese, my head is not in proportion with my body anymore, thus causing me to topple over during mealtimes sometimes!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, I'm lost for words to tell them that I just have vertigo like what Abah used to have. And it is far better than what Abah had as I dont vomit and it lasts only less than a minute. Plus, I could run as fast as usual right after. So, I just let them worry and the result is, I got more pampering!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nowadays, I enjoy extra tender loving care and more frequent treats of my favourite cans of sardines and salmons. Hmmm...didnt I always tell you that there's a silver lining in every cloud?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anywaysss...enough about me<span style="font-size: x-small;"> ( though I know all of you wants more and more of me,right? And oh, for those of you who wonders, rest assured that I still look as good and fluffy and cute as before). </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As for Abang and Adik, they are well and doing fine with their respective studies. Abang is still in<i> syahadah </i>class and hoping to graduate by the end of this year. Adik is preparing for her PT3 which will take place soon...and she grumbles a lot about being made guinea pigs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">They went for<i> umrah</i> for the second time in late February as a long overdue promised gift for Abang for having successfully committed 30 <i>juzuks </i>of the holy<i> Quran </i>to memory. The journey was postponed before because of our late Moktok being sick. It was a joyous and meaningful occasion for them both as they now understand deeper of the spiritual sides of the journey compared to their first<i> umrah</i>. Abang got to fulfill his dream of reciting the whole of the <i>Quran</i> in front of the <i>Kaabah</i> while Adik said doing<i> tahajjud</i> infront of the Kaabah was priceless!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back from the holy lands, Abah, Mama and Adik went on to visit Cik Tie at her new abode in Patayya where they had wonderful holiday with Cik Lah's family. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I cant be bothered to find their numerous photos there...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I'm getting tired writing this...so I guess I'll just stop here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Till then,so long....and gear up for Ramadhan all of you,you hear me??</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">p/s I am never good at giving titles to anything,so...</span></span><br />
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<br />Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-16948556086440555482014-01-27T11:54:00.000+08:002014-01-28T10:35:28.938+08:00A NEW START.....<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Okay...I have left this space long enough. I know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Lets see, errmm my last entry was in August last year, so, its been 4 months. 4 months wherein so many things happened and have changed our pattern of life quite significantly. Yup, I know both of you, Abang and Adik, for whom this blog is dedicated to, fully understood and have forgiven me for breaking the promises made. I just couldnt find the time to write in the first 3 months and did not have any creative streak in me in the last month that followed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, yes, my mother left me. The beautiful, gentle and most loving grandmother of yours that you fondly call Moktok.... On the 5th Dec 2013. 1 year and 4 months after her husband of more than 50 years passed on.Oh, the tears still flow writing this out....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Mid Sept 2013, Moktok was admitted after Abah noticed her left leg was inflamed and tender to the touch. Moktok had been diabetic for quite a number of years and errr...was not the most disciplined patient at watching what she ate as well as not very compliant to the medication provided. Two weeks in the HUSM, discharged for a couple of days only to be re-admitted into Tg Anis Hospital where we encountered the most mediocre treatment ever from hospital staff. And that is to say it mildly....We took Moktok out, AOR, after only one night . Brought her to Perdana Specialist Hospital only to be advised to bring her back to HUSM as they dont have a nephrologist resident. From then on, things got from bad to worse....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> 2 traumatic weeks in CCU, another harrowing week in HDU and a few days in normal ward....and Moktok was then discharged, with doctor's order to continue the haemodialysis (hd) treatment that was started while she was still quite unconscious in CCU. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBxQrWl-wJYhpU2lXu_nSdozsplJp1TV0EuQR83a7KkYuHCfc_Xap3dINSZyqNgJBxB9h8FHh3_263oSUDBt389RKsBgt9jzMMiPcV7Wd6Qrn-e2t-hbrTQ3XicjOFf2-Firis9RPK-Q/s1600/2013-10-02+13.01.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTBxQrWl-wJYhpU2lXu_nSdozsplJp1TV0EuQR83a7KkYuHCfc_Xap3dINSZyqNgJBxB9h8FHh3_263oSUDBt389RKsBgt9jzMMiPcV7Wd6Qrn-e2t-hbrTQ3XicjOFf2-Firis9RPK-Q/s1600/2013-10-02+13.01.52.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moktok on BiPAP (Bi level positive air pressure)machine in CCU</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Moktok then started attending the hd sessions regularly at a centre near her home and we were so happy to see Moktok was almost back to her normal self when suddenly, without any warning, she just left us....when we were having so many plans to do with her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Indeed, Allah is The One who has the knowledge...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now, all of us are still talking about her, reminiscing...being nostalgic and even laughing at some memories...for indeed, besides being kind hearted, Moktok could be so funny and was such a good sport. (Oh, I really miss talking and joking with her...) More importantly, InsyaAllah all of us are praying and presenting her with our a'maal on daily basis. May Allah give us the strength to remember to do it for all our life....for Moktok and Tok Ayah had indeed shaped us into what we are today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have learned so many valuable lessons during those hectic months in the hospital. Most important for me, is to value and appreciate each one of us. Masya Allah, Moktok was sick just long enough to give each and everyone of her children, sons and daughters in law and most grandchildren, opportunity to serve her. And, Alhamdulillah, what an honour it was!! We got to care for her as she did us when we were small...clean her,bathe her, dress her up, diapers n all, feed her ...and at times when she was hallucinating yet still want to pray, we recited the prayer aloud alongside her and she followed us word by word. We took turn...all of us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> But, there was a test for us in that too...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">With quite a number of us, there bound to be some moments of difficulties... and being physically and emotionally exhausted, temper did flare some times! Nothing out of control though...and Alhamdulillah all was eventually amicably settled . The practise of gently reminding and advising each other amongst us proved to be priceless. And now that Moktok , who we always thought of as the one that binds us all, is no more with us...I feel the need to be in constant contact with my siblings are stronger. And the feeling, I discovered, are mutually shared by all of my sisters and brothers and thanks to the modern day technology , it is soooo easy to do that.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Okay, that is all I could manage to pen down now ..... starting again was difficult, just so you know!!</span><br />
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<br />Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-26650756239208655752013-08-30T18:30:00.001+08:002013-08-30T18:36:28.207+08:00SYAWWAL 1434<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Syawwal is still here for another few days, so, it a perfect excuse for me to use it as the title for this post, thus 'camouflaging' the fact that I just have no better idea...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway, Alhamdulillah, things have been looking up since my last morbid post.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Abang came home 3 days before Eid and things started to become hectic. The day he arrived was the only day he got to have <i>iftaar</i> at home. The next day, it had been pre-arranged for all of Abahs siblings that have arrived home to have <i>iftaar</i> at Tok Ayah's. The event that unite Abang and Adik with cousins were as always, joyous occasion. And on the Eid's eve, we gathered at Moktok's, with another set of cousins.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">At Moktok's we held our annual full Quran recitation as gifts to our ancestors who had gone to meet The Creator . And of course, this year, it was specially dedicated to my beloved father. Alhamdulillah, this year, all of Moktok's children, except C.Lah, were present. With so many of us, we managed to<i> khatam</i> the whole Quran quite fast with Abang alone read 4<i> juzuks.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Abang was quite the popular guy amongst the cousins this year. He arrived home looking better than usual, taller and broader. Turned out that he had been feeding well!! For almost the whole month he and his friends that had been chosen to become imams for <i>taraweh</i> prayers all around Penang were being feted by the respective locals where they were 'stationed'. They would be fetched from<i> madrasah</i> by the locals around 6pm every day, have <i>iftaar</i> at the masjid, did the <i>taraweh</i>, had <i>moreh</i>, the locals then sent them back to the<i> madrasah</i>. On the way, they would stop at various food stalls to buy food for their friends back at the<i> madrasah </i>who were not as lucky as them! Abang said they usually arrived at the<i> madrasah</i> carrying loads of food packets! Looks like the uncles were full of understanding of the kids needs and the teachers were sporting enough to turn a blind eye towards that not-so-legal activity!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We were taken aback when we saw him at the airport, but quickly recovered as we saw his boyish smile was still there! On the drive home, he entertained us with the report of the above activity. And he nonchalantly told us that he was given a token in the form of some money in an envelope and the money was gone when he left it in the robe that he took out to go into the loo,at the airport that morning. We were all like , what??? How careless of you Abang!! And he said, its okay, its not my<i> rezeki</i>, Allah has ordained it.... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Everybody back home, yes, everybody, noticed and commented on Abang's appearance. In his whiter than whites robe and neat turban,<span style="font-size: x-small;"> and ermmm.. good looks</span>, he kinds of stands out I would say. So much so that when the men went for Maghrib prayer, the imam was a bit late and when he arrived to see the congregation was quite ready , he just pushed Abang to the front to lead the prayer. And, as Tok Ayah's house is just next the mosque, all of us ladies at home, could hear Abang reciting in such a melodious tone. Subhanallah, it was beautiful! I was particularly surprised because prior to this, Abang's voice was kind of hoarse,croaking at intervals when he recited long surahs as he has this problem with excessive phlegm due to his allergic rhinitis. Alhamdulillah, looks like it is cured.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The next day, at Moktok's village, it just happened again...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And at both mosques, the elderlies, being intrigued by newcomers as usual, questioned Abang of his lineage, no less! When Abang amusedly related it to us back home, Abang was being relentlessly teased that those men and ladies are targeting Abang for future son-in-law!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eid, as usual was much anticipated occasion for Abang n Adik, as it is about the only time all cousins are gathered. It is so heartwarming to see how all of them are so fond of each other yet with religious upbringing, they know the limit set between boys and girls, Masya Allah...</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First eid day with some of the cousins on both sides </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">On 4th Syawwal, Moktok's clan checked in at three dorms in <a href="http://tourism.terengganu.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&id=115:lata-tembakah&Itemid=297&lang=en">Lata Tembakah</a>, a waterfall resort for the planned family day. Needless to say, it was an indescribable happiness for all of us...We even managed to bring Moktok along despite her being quite feeble now. It was made even more enjoyable as we had almost the whole resort to ourselves. When Ayah Ji gave the<i> bayan </i>after maghrib, the whole <i>surau</i> was occupied only by us. The next morning,the ladies,most are <i>niqabis</i>, got to swim too as the other visitors were not allowed in until 10am.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Family day at Lata Tembakah</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eid celebration ended for us when Abang had to go back on Syawwal 8th/August 15th. And it was not without drama either! Abang suddenly realised he didnt have the IC with him as we were standing in the queue at the check in counter, despite being repeatedly asked by me before we left for the airport. To make matter worse, we didnt bring any printout travel documents whatsoever! I was really mad at him...and I made them both recited the prayer<b> Rabbi yassir wala tu 'assir</b> while waiting for Abang's turn. No talking at all was allowed!! Concentrate and really asked from Allah with all your heart...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Masya Allah, the prayer proved to be potent and to cut the story short, Abang was allowed in..Then only everybody was allowed to smile...hihihi. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, thats about our eid this year.....and with that, I end this entry!</span></span><br />
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Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-53661262870656307932013-07-20T16:34:00.001+08:002013-07-22T08:51:29.418+08:00 RAMADHAN 1434<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First n foremost, please forgive me, Abang n Adik, for I have broken my promise of one entry per month. Last month was hectic and I didnt have the energy nor the time to sit down and write .</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday marked one full hijri year of your grandfather, my beloved and much missed father, passed away peacefully, looking like he was fast asleep with a smile on his fair,serene face, when he did.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Right after<i> suhoor,</i> my phone was full with messages of the same tone from my siblings over our <i>whatsapp</i> family group. All of us were feeling it all over again. And we encouraged and promised each other to increase our <i>amaal soleh</i> of that day and gift them all to our beloved father. And it was Friday yesterday, which made them more valuable.....May Allah accepts them all, increased them and be the reasons for your grandfather's status to be elevated higher .</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And in the evening we went for<i> iftaar</i> with Mak Tok. <i>Alhamdulillah,</i> Mak Tok was okay and happy as there were quite a number of us were there yesterday. Abi, Umi and their grown-up sons who rarely visit, made time for Mak Tok yesterday. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ramadhan always come bringing a kind of serene joyful feeling to us...but this year, a melancholic feeling also attached itself to it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Around a week prior to <i>Ramadhan</i> we lost your Abah's uncle and cousin. Tok Din, as he was known to you two, passed away suddenly while vacationing with his whole family in Langkawi. And Makcik Zalina succumbed to cervical cancer exactly on her 46th birthday. Two deaths of close family in a row quite affected us. Let us pray for both of them, and infact, for all our family who have gone to our Creator, and are actually waiting for us to pass through the same door that they had passed....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The last memory of Tok Din to us was when he came to visit Kak Chik in Aprbil. He was his jovial self as usual, enjoying our Kelantanese food, especially the<i> gulai serati </i><span style="font-size: small;">( ate them twice),</span> went shopping, mostly food of course, with Tok Nazi, Kak Long and Kak Cha, reminiscing and enquiring about relatives scattered all over Kelantan.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The thing about him was, he became Abah's uncle by marriage, but he was close to all Tok Nazi's nieces and nephews, as well as grandnieces/nephews . We could see how all K. Cha's n K.Long's small kids behaved toward him like their own grandfather. A big burly Johorean, with a bigger heart to match, Tok Din would never fail to enquire about Abang Habri whenever we visited them at their Taman Tun's house , or he came visiting and Abang was away in<i> madrasah.</i> He always remember all the names of the many grandchildren....there are so many of you that it is quite understandable if the elderlies cant remember the names of all. But not him, he always remember and always interested to know Abang's progress. When he last came, we told him that Abang has<i> khatamed</i> and he was impressed and I vividly remember this wistful look on his face when he mused aloud that his own grandsons should become <i>hafiz</i> too. May Allah makes his wishes to come true...ameen.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As for Makcik Zalina, we pray that all the sufferings that she went through was enough to ensure her meeting with The Maker , a peaceful ones, for indeed she had suffered a lot. We saw how her condition spiraled down, after she refused chemotheraphy, opting for alternative treatment onstead. I still shudder remembering how at one phase her nerve became so sensitive that you cant passed by the bed she was lying without her feeling the force of our walking by and it caused her pain. One light touch on her leg would sent her screaming and she described the sensation as like being on electric shock. The pain was so sudden and acute. She was just a bag of bones, reduced to an unknown face when she died. But, after she was bathed and prepared for the burial, her sweet, kind face returned and she left us with the memory of a kind, hard working,warm and strong-will woman. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There, death upon death should be enough a reminder to all of us that it is always nearby, biding for the time. Let us all be prepared ,for the the wisest ones amongst us are the ones who always remember death.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I thus, end this entry with a loose translation of a <i>hadith..</i>.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ibn Umar (Radiallahu anhu) said, with ten other companions we went to visit Rasulullah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam. One Ansari asked “Who is the smartest and most (karim) among
people”? Prophet Sallallahu alaihi wasallam replied;" The one who remembers death the most and
is actively preparing for <i>akhirah</i>(hereafter). They are the smart
ones, they will gain grace in this <i>dunya</i> and honor in the <i>akhirah</i>”.</span></span></b>
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Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-12116307005213042102013-05-30T22:42:00.000+08:002014-01-21T22:37:28.187+08:00ON BEING ENVIRONMENTALIST...(pt 2)( or trying to be...)<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We, Adik and me, were on our way to get our weekly grocery supply and Adik reminded me to update my blog and I said I just dont know what else to write and can I stop posting entries already, please? Adik reacted strongly to this and gave me quite a lecture....hmmmh!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, between picking up this and that and referring to my shopping list, while Adik disappeared upstairs to get some stationary, I thought of a few things I could write on. But all of them lack essence ( haha, as if my previous entries did have some). Adik met me while I was queueing to weigh the veges. I got a small pumpkin ( to be pureed for our healthy high protein mug cake and pancake recipes), a small jicama for the salad bowl and some old gingers, all in one plastic bag. In another one, 5 limes and a handful of green chillies. Since Adik was there, I asked her to hand those to the lady at the weighing counter. And Adik was horrified that I mixed everything together and thought that is was shameful and I shouldnt do that. I shushed her and went to get some tortilla and asked her to meet me at the cashiers. She came with all sour face and complaining...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7627POwTtZ2PQ78rFB2x5rlONE9B2wMq0viDb5WsyJrPn5-9gvDVdhsu8cRzK005E-1gcVDIqRwXIxUDaiGYmAn5Pno6i-ScJeYhWAO79xDXVq0icNR8LuMFSXrRF7kcZQ4D54O4Pxg/s1600/2013-05-30+13.11.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7627POwTtZ2PQ78rFB2x5rlONE9B2wMq0viDb5WsyJrPn5-9gvDVdhsu8cRzK005E-1gcVDIqRwXIxUDaiGYmAn5Pno6i-ScJeYhWAO79xDXVq0icNR8LuMFSXrRF7kcZQ4D54O4Pxg/s1600/2013-05-30+13.11.28.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Favourite shopping bag...big n strong!!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Aha! Now, I got things to write up on, and what better is, educating my daughter, who one day soon, Insyaa Allah,will be doing the grocery shopping just as her Mama does now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I usually do our grocery shopping on a weekday, in the mornings. So, Adik is not exposed to this until now, the school holiday and she's bored at home and decided to accompany me.( Abang will be arriving soon as his<i> madrasah</i> only started its vacation on the 1st June.)</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTFwHEAlNaD5aXYoKIGpdklRz2knO-dbusrSXB06uIHpvYjmJGSQ3sMe46_vJ7V540UsQUd9TJJHg6AjfeaOdgB7ovsragRvGgL62c_zj6F4a2AfkHjbwnQZfMPzuQYrVHpTkzKgR3LA/s1600/2013-05-30+11.26.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTFwHEAlNaD5aXYoKIGpdklRz2knO-dbusrSXB06uIHpvYjmJGSQ3sMe46_vJ7V540UsQUd9TJJHg6AjfeaOdgB7ovsragRvGgL62c_zj6F4a2AfkHjbwnQZfMPzuQYrVHpTkzKgR3LA/s1600/2013-05-30+11.26.51.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm sure, Adik, you do realise that plastic bags really are an environmental hazard and how we have been trying to reduce their usage since a few years back. I wrote about it <a href="http://cerita-mama.blogspot.com/2011/01/on-being-enviromentalist.html">here</a>. So, why should I take a different plastic bag for each vege when all three could fit into one? Adik argued my practise slows down the line and gives the lady extra work. Owh Adik, that is just a tiny price to pay compared to what those plastics cost to the environment! Plus, those people manning the weight stations are supposed to know about this. They should, after I have been giving them short lectures week in and week out!! And at the cashiers too if some ignorant ones gave a blank stares at me and my shopping bags. And at some customers too...Some people actually looked at me and reminded me that it's not Saturday, you dont have to bring bags!! Yes I did...and I even went further and asked to see the management after one too many frustrating episodes. You knew about this...You and Abah rolled up your eyes at me over that!! But,but...it did produce result alright. No more explaining to the staff nowadays and they actually praise me and keep telling me I am about the only one they know that bring bags on weekdays. So, if you see a <i>makcik</i> in <i>niqab</i>, wearing sport shoes,walk very fast , carrying recyclable bags in Kubang Kerian, that would be me hehehe....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Annnywayyy....havent you noticed how our household trash greatly reduced with this green effort of me? Few years back, Abah has to take the garbage out every 3 days, but its a fortnightly chores now. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Imagine the energy and resources saved!! And imagine the benefit those plants in our backyard gets from the composted kitchen waste. And how those bottles that we deemed as thrash could actually feed a family. How many times have we seen people ransacking the waste bins by the road side,looking for recyclables. So, our state is still very much backward in recycling technology, cant even provide enough recycling bins, but we can help by separating the recyclables, thus making it easy for those people to actually collect them. My heart goes out to those people thinking how they have to go through those awful smell just to get a few bottles. I actually wince everytime I saw people just chucking their empty bottles into the bin together with all sorts of waste from their home. If our guests ever do that in our home,by mistake, I would unhesitatingly pick it out the instant I saw it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, I'm still trying... and I really hope you and your generation would do that naturally. Sadly though, most people still regard it as unnecessary. Some shopping malls still unashamedly hand out plastic bags even on Saturday!! I like it very much when we go shopping in Penang where everyday is no plastic day. No wonder Penang is much cleaner than Kelantan!</span><br />
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<br />Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-40455063968373672892013-04-28T09:24:00.000+08:002013-04-30T12:03:20.052+08:00OF FENCE, LASIK AND PROSTHESIS....<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, after more than 10 years , our house is getting a proper fence! The construction is still going on and is expected to be completed very soon. Mama's front garden was mutilated in the process, much to my dismay, but Abah calls it collateral damage. Hmmp!! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, it was me who wanted the proper fence when we first built this house. But Abah thought, fences are a waste of money, keeping neighbours and beggars away, so, totally of no use!! Abah wants our house to be easily accessible to everyone ....so a simple fence was built. I think I have published a picture of it before, let me see...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRlw7shxnRjbL10mHmhP414Opc_u_3QB8qliijZn6uQusWuE_-in78QdSWbXnCCh7e-GK5Isq-y_akVqwxqPlNjleu3NVqH2re-MfOdR4CnVlKQou4kiX5CnJDCDGnSmqAGu5-ohSREY/s1600/w+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRlw7shxnRjbL10mHmhP414Opc_u_3QB8qliijZn6uQusWuE_-in78QdSWbXnCCh7e-GK5Isq-y_akVqwxqPlNjleu3NVqH2re-MfOdR4CnVlKQou4kiX5CnJDCDGnSmqAGu5-ohSREY/s320/w+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Yes, this was when you two were 5 and 3 respectively. In here, you could see our simple fence of chain-links on top of 2 feet of concrete borders. And in that white pot was the small bauhinia kockiana plant that Toksu gave us as a housewarming gift.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnps0mBdlWpUEq2HkUBuNqPoOIf6A5meRzmHhyphenhyphen1KMhyphenhyphenuHhafKE-ZkZgLS7kLB50sp5427ga1IPCIkQ8v814cqVUPlWwIIr8fqFnR3taIeHnNH7C5fy8xHZ4hKmunlf0Y0kfa5-vum0c0/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnps0mBdlWpUEq2HkUBuNqPoOIf6A5meRzmHhyphenhyphen1KMhyphenhyphenuHhafKE-ZkZgLS7kLB50sp5427ga1IPCIkQ8v814cqVUPlWwIIr8fqFnR3taIeHnNH7C5fy8xHZ4hKmunlf0Y0kfa5-vum0c0/s400/IMG_0406.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1SYDUS0NULxvmAXWEeYBIHODdT_Z9xpVR19hq5_y2QghrdLYA5Oo2obuFKxePwmIXspaLD63W-RgHi2XrhDCjnSLSOpHRteQzZZqxUJgReIFNJ3J_g2VqlOTUsuP0nnsgMAQ3EBZZu8/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1SYDUS0NULxvmAXWEeYBIHODdT_Z9xpVR19hq5_y2QghrdLYA5Oo2obuFKxePwmIXspaLD63W-RgHi2XrhDCjnSLSOpHRteQzZZqxUJgReIFNJ3J_g2VqlOTUsuP0nnsgMAQ3EBZZu8/s320/164.JPG" width="320" /></a>Look, how the small plant grew into luscious flowering tree that covered the ugly fence and provided colours to our front yard almost all year round. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And of course, the perfect place for Grey's afternoon siesta. They made picture perfect companion!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But the flowering bush is gone now sob,sob...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway...you cant have the cake and eat it too,can you?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then the much anticipated Lasik happened....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvltUsu6pwIIJj70wFtiGqkp43_I-lHzW5rxSrbTwLgSR9MwBsth0_Q5ZSRDBrVCRauZbvWTwJ65VEEj7ssDRgXbSfucpqSCGxjyVW3eZsvcQHlcIUPrxivKCV2RTbuwe031uUfVFvhg/s1600/2013-04-11+15.26.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvltUsu6pwIIJj70wFtiGqkp43_I-lHzW5rxSrbTwLgSR9MwBsth0_Q5ZSRDBrVCRauZbvWTwJ65VEEj7ssDRgXbSfucpqSCGxjyVW3eZsvcQHlcIUPrxivKCV2RTbuwe031uUfVFvhg/s320/2013-04-11+15.26.06.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After 35 years of having glasses on my nose, I could finally ditched them!! For good, InsyaAllah...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It has been two weeks and I am still counting my blessings on a daily basis. Subhanallah...there's no word really to describe how grateful I am for this great<i> nikmat </i>from Allah. Only those chained to their glasses would understand my feeling I guess. I must say my decision took many people by surprise...well, its not everyday a person very well known as the most<i> 'penakut'</i> willing to let her eyes 'cut' opened! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Well, of course I decided upon it after much reading on it, <i>istikharah</i> and <i>mesyuwarah</i> with Abah. The fact that no blade and needle involved in any stage helped a lot!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> So, I DID it...met the well-known Prof Muhaya,talked to her, found out the she was Abah's senior in their undergraduate school.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I must state here that many people are inspired by my decision hehehe... I got many calls from friends and relatives to enquire further on the actual operation. My advice is, do as I did, read, <i>istikharah</i>,discuss with your spouse and of course, lot and lots of<i> do'a</i>. And by all means, watch the promotional videos widely available online, but dont look at the actual video taken by Abah during my operation!! You'll be scared to death, at least I do!!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Prof M invited Abah to join in the OT but of course he couldnt hold my hand. But knowing he was close helped a lot, coupled with the prof's soothing words and <i>zikr</i>...One thing for sure, no pain whatsoever!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And the last highlight of this month is of <a href="http://cerita-mama.blogspot.com/2012/11/kak-chiks-saga.html">Kakchik Illa</a> went into the OT again for re inserting of her prosthesis.<i> </i>Alhamdulillah, the operation went well and she is now recuperating in the executive ward in<i> </i>HUSM. InsyaAllah, she'll be able to walk again very soon.In the meantime, we try to visit her as often as we could...helping her ease off some of her food supplies!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That's all for this month kids...I'm off to packing bags as Abah and me are leaving for Kota Kinabalu again. Adik, be good while staying at Ayah Mat's ya...</span></span>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-71880067370815991202013-03-29T19:44:00.001+08:002013-03-29T19:45:34.183+08:00MISERABLE MARCH...Just when I thought I can retire peacefully,she has to come into our life. And made my life,in particular, oh so miserable. <br />
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It was Adik who 'discovered' her and begged and begged Mama and Abah to allow her to bring that tramp home.<br />
I disliked her on the first sight.<br />
And it progressed to disgust and now I simply hate her!!<br />
Nowadays I live my life in seclusion. In Mama's room to be exact. I will only go out when I couldnt smell her rotten odour around. Well, too bad if Abah, Mama, Adik( and now its school holidays, Abang is around too) have to do extra job of making sure she is out of the house before I could be persuaded to eat.<br />
I cant even linger in the kitchen for a second more than my mealtimes as I cant stand her pathetic voice outside the backdoor.<br />
I am so disgusted I cant write any more...so, guys, thats all from me for now.<br />
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signing off.<br />
Dr.M.Grey <br />
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Oh, Grey,the ultimate snobbish cat!!!<br />
I was hoping she would write a proper entry for this month as I am having a major brain drain due to the heat. Well, me and heat never agree. Year in, year out, you will hear about how bad the hot season affects me as Grey has kindly written<a href="http://cerita-mama.blogspot.com/2011/05/heat-is-on-pt-2.html"> here</a> and<a href="http://cerita-mama.blogspot.com/2010/04/heat-is-on.html"> here</a>. She is in a rotten mood this year,thus not so kind!<br />
Well, it is sooo hot now. I have been quite useless for the last two days. Cooped up in my cold dark room with minimum movement. And this morning, Maktok has to come visiting me, along with C.Nini and C.Jah and their families, after listening to exaggerated report by Abah. And as usual, I would miraculously get well whenever my sisters are around!! Much to Abah's delight of course as he was leaving for another trip to KK this evening.<br />
Poor Abang for having to come home for holidays in a very hot season where Mama stay away from the kitchen as much as possible. We did go for a short break in a jungle to escape the heat. Setiu Agro Resort to be exact, where all of us enjoyed jungle trekking, canoeing,fishing and cycling in the cooler air. Here's some pics for the record;<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtOArtcpfOwefMkkQGDDNhBCxu5spVjAcPfCRiE7Jdl74GApcvC57BWaO6LjG24gMA7UVBa7ohDsa8cG0xgzNXi4cHnQH5bcJanD-6CT1hQ5Tl4aFAdLZLVNMZR4LCdi6aSShmipN990/s1600/PhotoGrid_1364556331163.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtOArtcpfOwefMkkQGDDNhBCxu5spVjAcPfCRiE7Jdl74GApcvC57BWaO6LjG24gMA7UVBa7ohDsa8cG0xgzNXi4cHnQH5bcJanD-6CT1hQ5Tl4aFAdLZLVNMZR4LCdi6aSShmipN990/s400/PhotoGrid_1364556331163.png" width="400" /></a></div>
It was made even more enjoyable as we teamed up with Mak's family where Adik became inseparable with Kak Iybah and Abang with Aqim....and the resort itself was surprisingly quite void of other holiday makers thus leaving us monopolise the canoes,pedal boats and the floating gondola. Abang got to be<i> Imaam</i> at the<i> surau</i> and recite his daily portion of the Quran on that said gondola after <i>fajar</i> prayer. Blissful indeed!<br />
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Insyaa Allah I'll try to make Grey writes again on her enmity with Cheeky in the coming month...<br />
Till then, let us pray harder for rain....<br />
<br />Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-42055553712545797332013-02-28T22:57:00.000+08:002014-01-07T11:33:15.936+08:00FOOD AND SUCH.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh, its the last day of February already? I havent got anything to write this month. Few days ago I was thinking about writing on our newly 'replenished' back garden, as in sprouting new seeds to refill the bare patches and pots which had been left unattended since the rainy season of last December. The project took off well, the weather being very nice and all. But, Allah indeed is The Best Planner and He ordained that heavy rain are visiting again, and most of my seedlings couldnt stand the continuous downpour. Anyway, <b>Alhamdulillah ala kullihaal</b>...Allah knows best. I managed to save some of the sturdy seedlings of kailan, cherry tomatoes , capsicums and some salads and hoping they will survive Insyaa Allah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">So,Abang and Adik, not to disappoint you, for this month's entry I decide to post pictures of our food!! Hehe..<i>.boleh la kannn...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">The thing is, we have been cutting down on eating rice since last year. Down to only once or twice in a week . And when we do eat rice, it is either brown rice or basmathi most of the time. ( with exception when there are visitors in our home, especially Tok Su and KakChik , whom are surely will want to eat white rice with<i> budu</i> and all sorts of <i>ulams</i> and we will merrily join them!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">And we got asked by people, what do we eat if we dont do rice?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">So, here's the answer; </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Everybody likes quinoa when its served with braised lamb...as the picture below</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">From left: brown rice porridge, venison steak, ramen, grilled fish taco, chicken enchiladas, salmon wrap</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">saffron flavoured quinoa with grilled tuna steak</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Quinoa with braised venison</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">Venison has become the most preferred source of protein, it being the low fat meat. As for fish, we go for salmon and tuna. We always buy one whole salmon whenever they are on sale and we got tuna steaks from Kota Kinabalu where Abah frequents for his teachings. Quinoa has become so likeable after I discovered a better way of preparing them. Dry roast them until fragrant, add water and cook with some kind of flavouring. And I have been adding chia seeds everywhere....and imposing 2 to 4 litres of plain water on everyone in the house. Well, Abah and Adik sportingly eat whatever I serve but they just ignore any other rules I make. And they rolled up their eyes every now and then at my attempts of eating healthily.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">And, oh, I must state here too...most of the veges served and featured in these pictures are proudly from my own organic garden. Please take note!!</span><br />
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Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-74677028637719060562013-01-31T13:22:00.000+08:002013-01-31T13:22:59.457+08:00 HUMBLING BEGINNING...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2013 decides to test us from the very beginning. January is the month of sicknesses, sufferings, tears, worrying and at the end, fatigue. People close and dear to us seems to get sick one by one. But, Subhanallah, we are so lucky to witness how all these peoples embraced the tests Allah put them through with enviable manners.Truly, they are the peoples who put this hadith into practice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Our Prophet (pbuh) said: <span style="color: blue;">"Verily, if Allah loves a
people, He makes them go through trials. Whoever is satisfied, for him
is contentment, and whoever is angry upon him is wrath."</span> [Tirmidhi] </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It began with Cik Ma warded for suspected ectopic pregnancy. And it coincided with the predicted tropical storm of Sonamu. As the Hospital Tuanku Zahirah is located just by the famous Batu Buruk beach, people were fleeing the hospital when she had to go in!! The hospital authority was actually encouraging people to vacate, at their own risk, of course. There were only few beds occupied when we visited her. And that was a record for the O&G ward!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While we were still in Trengganu, the second news hit us. Ayah Mer, called to tell us that he was to undergo a major operation in 3 days time. Surgeons at Pusrawi decided to remove his right kidney to save him . They later took out a malignant growth weighted 1.5 kg. Ayah Mer is now without one kidney and undergoing cancer treatment that has spread out onto his lungs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These two bad news proved to be too much on Maktok who has just discharged from Tengku Anis Hospital at the end of December due to pneumonia. She was too weak to travel to visit her most beloved daughter in law in Trengganu, now to travel to KL to be with his son, even by airline, is out of question. The stresses built up and Maktok was soon landed in HUSM. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The stress was actually the final straw. Age , uncontrolled diabetes and non compliance with medicine are amongst other factors that push Maktok .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The creatinine level in her blood rose, and so did the urea content. The doctors are now contemplating on dialysis which really scares Maktok. Nowadays, she is very disciplined in her diet especially the amount of fluid intakes.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In late December last year we lost one of Abah's second cousin to cervical cancer. She was just 43. And now, another one of Abah's paternal cousin is suffering the same type of cancer which has also spread to the lungs. She is now refusing further treatment in the hospital and prefer to spend what valuable times left surrounded with loves from her husband and children. Then,while Maktok was still in the hospital, we also got news that our close neighbour has undergone a biopsy and was confirmed having cancer of the lungs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Looking back though, I see many good things came out of these. As I said before, we witnessed how the sick bore their sicknesses with patience, doing lots of zikrs, distributed sadaqahs, and tried their best to do the prescribed solats on time. Masya Allah. And how, the healthy ones got so much rewards doing services to the sicks. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cik Nini and family took Cik Ma's broods under their wings even though they have their hands full with little Syamil. My siblings gathered in KL to give support to our beloved brother and we gave what we could afford, spiritually ,materially and physically. And when Maktok was debilitated, most of her children and grandchildren were so lucky to get the chance to care for her as she did us when we were small. No one was reluctant and squeamish at the task of even washing her. In fact, everyone was overwhelmed by the experience!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And when at last, we got the chance to visit our neighbour who is now undergoing treatment at home, we were pleasantly surprised to find she was all smiling and cheerful and her ever busy husband was home. It was a surprise indeed as he is a state councillor who should otherwise be busy with the looming election. Spousal support is indeed very important in facing any kind of trials.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Alhamdulillah ala kullihal...</span><br />
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Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-77261934260720278062012-12-30T20:18:00.000+08:002012-12-30T20:18:12.661+08:00THE END OF 2012...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Another year gone...and we all were struck with how swift the time flies. We could still vividly remember how the three of us having breakfast at the famous White House <i>kopitiam</i> before sending Adik off to her first day at secondary school. And now, Adik is preparing her stuff for her second year already, which will begin the day after tomorrow. As for Abang, 2013 will see him starting the <i>Syahadah </i>class InsyaaAllah.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2012 has been an eventful year for us. Good and bad things happened as part and parcel of life with tears and laughter accompanying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Most unforgettable of course is the passing of your beloved grandfather.We all are still pining for him. Maktok's health has been deteriorating since. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">K.Long Syida's<i> nikah'</i>s that took place in our home is one of joyous moments in 2012. C.Lah and Ay.Pa have just acquired a new business opportunity that required them to relocate and they have to travel to and fro their home and the new place every so often.. Thus the decision to shift the ceremony to our place. It was beautiful and I got to be the person in charge of everything as my sister was too busy with her new business venture. It was tiring, but I got the experience of being of mother of the bride hehe...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My youngest sibling, your Ayah Su also got hitched this year...an event that the late Tok Ayah would very much like to see.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All these and some others are all without Abang's presence. The strict rules of his <i>madrasah</i> is one of the sacrifices Abang ungrudgingly endures,<i> Masyaa Allah</i>. May Allah rewards him bountifully and may his dream to be a <b><i>hafidz</i></b> and an<i> 'aliim</i> will soon be realized.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In this month of December, life has been hectic for us. Abah got home from hajj at the end of November and the very next day we drove to Penang to see Abang. We discovered a new picnic place( Pantai Malindo) that was void of people! So, Abang and Adik got the chance to be the kids on the beach they used to be, albeit fully covered as opposed to in shorts and t-shirts as of the time past. <b><i>Alhamdulillah...</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Abah worked for a few days, then, we took off for our extended holidays. First off, in KL where we got the chance to visit the ailing Nenek Nafisah, Abah's auntie. Then we visit our friends from Glasgow days that left us reminiscing for sometimes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In KK later, we met another couple who not only asked us for dinner, but lent us their car so that we could go to Kundasang! Thanks Dr Wahi N Rosie....)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span>Adik enjoyed listening to our tales...a few other places, then , to the main event, the reception of Kak Syida's.... Came home for two days, then we were off to Trengganu for one night, came home only to fly off the next day to Kota Kinabalu for 5 days. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have been trying our best to stick to healthy eating the whole year through, but, during holidays, all things go haywire.....not to mention the lacks of exercise session!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But, InsyaaAllah, I am determined to ensure that things get back on track comes first day of 2013. Wish me luck!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6glpXsL6hrA/UOAR7G_2j4I/AAAAAAAABQY/6jyRn03Ip4Q/s1600/20121218_094400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6glpXsL6hrA/UOAR7G_2j4I/AAAAAAAABQY/6jyRn03Ip4Q/s640/20121218_094400.jpg" width="480" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These shall be our staples from now on,beware ya Abah n Adik hehehe...(plus the brown wild rice n seaweeds we got fm Sabah)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">May Allah guides us all in the forthcoming year....include us in the group of people who constantly make effort on our <i>imaan</i> and keep improving our <i>'amaals</i>. <i>Amin</i>.</span></span><br />
<br />Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-55574820690023658762012-11-29T22:06:00.000+08:002012-11-29T22:13:34.363+08:00KAK CHIK'S SAGA.....<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Introducing<span style="font-size: x-small;">(drum rolls pls...)</span>my guest writer, Miss Fadzila AKA Kak Chik!! </span></span><br />
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Lets hear from her, shall we...</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">As both of you,Abang and Adik may recall, a few entries ago
your Mama had promised an entry regarding a certain someone’s
prosthesis..And,in order not to <i>mungkir</i> her <i>janji</i>,ur Mama asked <span style="font-size: small;">(or shall we
say forced)</span> me write about it myself <span style="font-size: large;">"</span>Better to hear from <i>tuan punya badan”</i> she
says..<span style="font-size: small;">(tho,I think she’s saving herself from having to think of something to
write this month)</span> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">So here I am..</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before we get to the prosthesis,I think it is only fair that
I start from the beginning.. <i>Jom </i>rewind to 16 years ago when it all started…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">My first memory of knee pains was when I was in form 5. I
had a bad fall while doing long jump and
started to suffer from occasional swollen knees.The doctors at GH concluded
that it was a torn ligament and physiotherapy was prescribed. However the pain
and swollen knees continued to persist even as I started college in KL . Looking
back now I realise that the misdiagnoses was indeed a blessing in disguise
arranged by Allah SWT. You'll see why soon...keep on reading ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">You see both my parents <span style="font-size: small;">(Tok Su and Tok Ngah to u both)</span> were
attached with USM back then which also has one of the finest teaching hospitals
in the country (HUSM). Tok Ngah had casually mentioned about my swollen knee to
his colleague in HUSM who suggested to bring me to HUSM for further investigation.Little did I
know that that would be the start of my journey…</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was referred to <b>Dr Zulmi Wan</b> <span style="font-size: small;">(now Professor)</span>,Orthopeadic
Surgeon.To be honest first impressions weren’t that encouraging.Dr Zulmi was
the most <i>“sempoi”</i> doctor I’ve seen <span style="font-size: small;">(well,apart from your Abah,hehe)</span>, none of
the serious no nonsense persona you’d expect from a doctor/surgeon.He came into
the room with a big smile and a nearly all white full faced beard, and I was
like“Seriously?!!”..hihi.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Anyway,I was wrong coz he turned out to be the best
doctor anyone could ask for..Alhamdulillah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">After going thru my symptoms n medical history he suggested
that I undergo a biopsy to get a clearer picture on what was actually going on
coz you see by then I was unable to bend my knee properly. The biopsy showed
that there was erosion on my bones which pointed to either a tumor or bone tibi
<span style="font-size: small;">(this due to a classmate having had tibi)</span>.So,Dr Zulmi prescribed tibi
medication which seemed to initially have a positive effect on the swelling.
However, after a few weeks the pain and swelling returned. A second biopsy was
done and confirmed that it was a tumor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a whirlwind of tests after that, everything happened
so fast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can’t remember the exact day I found out but I remember
the room being filled with Tok Su,Tok Ngah,your Abah <span style="font-size: small;">(my cousin)</span>,family
friends,doctors and nurses ..all waiting. Dr Zulmi entered the room,we made
small chat and I asked him about my condition .He took a deep breath,looked at
me sadly and slowly said “You will lose your knee..”and went on to explain what
it was, how he planned to treat it etc,etc. but I only had “you will lose your
knee playing over and over again in my head. As I tried to digest what he was
telling me,I tried to be calm..but I couldn’t…I reached out to Tok Su and I
just broke down. It was just too much to digest…I had my “moment” but then I
thought to myself that crying till my eyes bled would still not change anything
so I might as well face it. Thinking back now, I thank Allah for inspiring that
thought in me, for making me <i>redha</i> with it. They suspected the tumor to be
<b>synovial sarcoma</b> and it effected my left knee. Because of this ,Dr Zulmi
planned to carry out <b>“Limb salvage surgery”</b> where the affected part of the limb
is removed <span style="font-size: small;">(in my case,the knee)</span> and replaced with a metal prosthesis.It turned
out that that kind of surgery was still new in Malaysia at the time and Dr
Zulmi was one of the pioneers in the country. <span style="font-size: small;">(Prior to this, amputation was
the only option)</span>.See..a blessing in disguise indeed...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">The treatment plan involved having 2 surgeries and followed
by chemotherapy.The first to remove the affected parts and reconstruct my knee
for the prosthesis whilst the 2<sup>nd</sup> was to insert the prosthesis.You
might be wondering why it wasnt done all at once, well at that time the
prosthesis had be to ordered from Australia and delivery took weeks.
Considering the close proximity of the cancer to my blood stream, Dr Zulmi
didn’t want to take any chance of waiting any longer. So the date was set on 15<sup>th</sup>
April 1998 and Alhamdulillah the operation went well. It lasted for 24 hours.
They removed my <b>knee cap,18cm of my femur, 2cm of my tibia and 50% of my
quadriceps.</b> A muscle flap was taken from my back whilst a vein was taken from
my right leg to replace the muscle and vein removed. Tok Su and Tok Ngah said I
was unrecognizable when I came out of the OT..hehe. Wish they had taken a
picture, Im really curious to know how I looked like.I spent a few days in the
ICU and the high dependency ward,but Alhamdulillah I didn’t feel any pain or
discomfort.I think I was highly drugged!<span style="font-size: large;">!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">I remained in the hospital for about 100 days and underwent
further 4 surgeries <span style="font-size: small;">(to insert the prosthesis and manage infection to the
surgical wound)</span>.My final diagnosis was <b>bone lymphoma </b>based on a biopsy done on
the mass that was removed. Allah had sent so many people to make my stay as
easy and smooth as possible.I always had people visiting and looking after me
even when Tok Su had to return to work.I can’t thank all of them enough and can
only dua that Allah reward them for their deeds.I had your Mama and Abah,our
relatives,Tok Su and Tok Ngahs friends who always dropped by to see how I was doing.Your
Abah diligently made sure my supply of distilled water was constant and bring
me <i>roti cotek</i> or roti sardine for breakfast while your mama would bring Abang
to visit which really made my day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">What happened next some people may call it unfortunate but I
would like to think of it as my <i>“rezeki”</i>.A few months after I was discharged my
leg began to develop signs of infection.I was put on a course of antibiotics
but to no avail.Dr Zulmi suggested that the only way to properly treat the
infection was to have another 2 stage operation.The first to remove the
prosthesis and leave in a spacer packed with antibiotics to treat the infection
internally and a second operation to
reinsert the prosthesis. Me being already “traumatized” from the previous stay,
refused outright<span style="font-size: large;">!! </span>As my infection appeared to be localized and had not
compromised my prosthesis or my overall wellbeing,both Dr Zulmi and I agreed
that the corrective operation could wait.I went on to further my studies in
Dublin ,started working aannndd before you knew it 14 years had passed....</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">W</span>hich
brings me to where I am now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">The infection had progressively caused me pain over the
years,but began to worsen the past 2-3 years to the point of being at times
unbearable. Painkillers started to become my best friend and I started planning
my life, my every move around managing the pain. So I finally agreed to have
the operation. The date was set on 11/7/12 and Alhamdulillah it went smoothly
with an outcome better than expected. My prosthesis was removed without any
major complication whilst the infection was found to be indeed localized and
was easier to remove than previously thought.Alhamdulillah, my progress has
been good so far and I am now waiting to have the 2<sup>nd</sup> operation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">The past 14 years have definitely changed me for the better
and I thank Allah for that.This gift from HIM has brought me closer to HIM, to
be more conscious of HIM and also improved my relations with people around me,
my family .I’m thankful for the strength HE has given me and for all the people
that HE has sent my way whether to treat me,care for me,help me or even to
remind me of HIM..I admit that I had my moments when I felt down and frustrated
but Allah always sent me reminders and raised my spirits again. I realized that
even when Allah tests us, HE arranges it in a manner where it suits us whether
it be the timing ,place or type..and HE will send people to help you get thru
it. So never despair if you are tested <span style="font-size: large;">A</span>dik and <span style="font-size: large;">A</span>bang, for Allah has something
better in store for us.We may not be able to see it immediately,but just have
faith and remember that Allah loves us so very much!</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A</span>dik n Abang, now you know why Kak Chik is almost a perma<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">nent guest in</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">our household.</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And she is always welcome to stay...</span> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">( we<span style="font-size: x-small;">ll, when K.chik is around</span> you enjoy free meals at those fastfood outlets n Mama got to exploit Kak Chik's OKU card kan..can park near the entrance maaa... so, what not to welcome la kaannn hehehe)</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Huh! Thankyou Illa...you saved me!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Love you much!!!</span></span></span></div>
Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-38741875090154827482012-10-31T11:51:00.000+08:002012-10-31T11:56:31.968+08:00OF HAJJ AND MOTORBIKE......October 2012 began with me getting one year older <span style="font-size: x-small;">(and hopefully wiser...)</span><br />
We were rejoicing over the fact that finally, my eldest brother ( your Ayah Long), is able to make the long-awaited spiritual journey to the holy land. It was a joy to all of us because it is the very wish of the late Tok Ayah. He used to fret and fret over the fact that Ayah Long is getting on in years and being showered by so much wealth by Allah yet he still couldnt extricate himself from his busy schedule to go and fulfill the 5th pillar. Yes, Tok Ayah couldnt witness it with his own eyes, but by Ramadhan, it was almost sure that Ayah Long and Cik Long are going and Tok Ayah was so happy...And he was made happier to see how Ayah Long has been trying to improve himself spiritually as a preparation for the journey.<br />
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Out of the blue, Abah got a call that he was chosen too, and he was to go in less than two weeks time! Even earlier than Ayah Long himself. We were not really surprise though, knowing fully well about Abah's ongoing research project with the pilgrimages. It just that we were not prepared. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Okay, it's me who was not prepared.</span> I was supposed to feel thankful that Abah got to do haji again for the fourth time, but being weak as I am, I felt quite the contrary, astaghfirullah...<br />
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So, Abah went, and the rain started. Heavy rains as if the monsoon has decided to come earlier. And I was feeling doubly blues. No amount of whatsApp messages,viber calls or tango video calls from Abah could ease it. <span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, I was that mushy...</span><br />
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But, 20th of Oct arrived and brought Abang off the plane early in the morning. And I was cured!! And even the week long rain stopped too. It was shining ever so brightly on the day we made our qurban at Ayah Mat's. Adik was happy that Abang's home as she wouldnt have to walk to the main road to wait for her school bus every morning. Whenever Abah is around, Abah would send her on motor bike, and now Abang is taking over.( It was just a short distance really) As for Abang, riding motorbike is a newly acquired skill, happened during the last Eid ul fitr holiday. He has been wanting to do that, seeing other younger boys, with legs so short they cant even touch the ground when they are on the bike,riding around the kampung joyously. He didnt ask because he knows fully well our stand on this kind of things. But then, after seeing how tall and strong he has grown, and we could see he is now capable of handling it, Abah gave him a lesson, with not much success though, as I kept yelping nearby...<span style="font-size: x-small;">(bad mama, I know)</span>Then Aqim came and within a few minutes, Abang was confidently riding!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdIWkfTZam92cF6J-ks7xWrch2DW5r1g3pKkZ5-AWeGqFfb12vqEiTl8tHk4mY09zfVPWlIkrt4awjT15ba0qzZClt-YUlW0cjmi8kZX5CflFLkSj2ISAqYMziDAS1DpgUhuHJgcGPL4/s1600/20121023_185217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdIWkfTZam92cF6J-ks7xWrch2DW5r1g3pKkZ5-AWeGqFfb12vqEiTl8tHk4mY09zfVPWlIkrt4awjT15ba0qzZClt-YUlW0cjmi8kZX5CflFLkSj2ISAqYMziDAS1DpgUhuHJgcGPL4/s320/20121023_185217.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">going for Asar...</td></tr>
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So, he really looked forward to coming home this time around as he knew he would get plenty of chances to ride. To the mosque five times a day, send Adik to the bus stand, taking out thrash to the dustbin on the main road and go buying this and that for Mama. All these trips are of course done on small paved road away from the main busy road. That's a strict condition put by us that he has to go by. No main road until he got a license. He has to park the bike on one side of the road and walk across to buy something as most of shops are on the other side of the main road . Abang said he felt like a real grown up now!! And kept saying thank you's to Mama for giving him the chance... Thats just like Abang. It was me who should be thankful of you. Abang did a lot when he was home...and at Mak Tok's too. Both Abang and Adik vacuumed and mopped up Mak Tok's floor until it shone. MasyaAllah I was so proud of you two, Alhamdulillah...<br />
<br />
It was one satisfying, fulfilled week when Abang was home. Managed to cook many of his favourite dishes too...Adik was so happy that Abang,during their evening cruises, taught her to ride as well, without my knowledge of course, as I would never agree to it!! The highlight of the week was when Abah told us to catch him on TV al Hijrah as he would be interviewed on a live program. As we dont have satellite tv, we hastily downloaded the 1MalaysiaTV apps and watched him on the tablet...here's Abah.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrdiJrCONICycqvyAhykY2pC8pPUxYMEo6q8I1pfeJ7nRigcWiWSk-x-DsOeZUAB390wbjeBbrernZ9Xs79YNcOnmUD1jSkgWZ4A5Rag4SPQ29IyhsO_sXrzR4tEEeJy03VNhRQf3o50/s1600/IMG-20121031-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrdiJrCONICycqvyAhykY2pC8pPUxYMEo6q8I1pfeJ7nRigcWiWSk-x-DsOeZUAB390wbjeBbrernZ9Xs79YNcOnmUD1jSkgWZ4A5Rag4SPQ29IyhsO_sXrzR4tEEeJy03VNhRQf3o50/s320/IMG-20121031-WA0000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Thanks Kak Chik Illa for the picture...we forgot to screen capture any of it as all three of us were busy gazing longingly at Abah! When Abah called later, the first question Adik asked Abah was,why didnt they put make up on you!!!<br />
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Well, the rain has started again....and I'm signing off.Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-37496524346990382652012-09-26T18:49:00.003+08:002012-09-27T08:07:05.558+08:00MEEOOWWW...<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hello guys,Assalamualaikum.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Its me again. Grey the cat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If its all up to me, I cant be bothered to spend my precious time writing up an entry, but, hey, what can I say.... I have my own fans!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And they keep asking Mama to let me write again. ( I secretly think they are bored of Mama's same old ,same old stories already hehehe)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway, Alhamdulillah I have been keeping well. Think I have lost a bit of weight...though people have different views on this. Some would say I am just as fat as ever, some say my tummy is not as big as before. Yes, people do actually discuss me, my weight,(I must reiterate that my muscle mass is just in the right proportion with my body-fat...but these people have no inkling whatsoever of what I'm talking about) my habits and everything about me. Again, what can I say...I am just so adorable that people cant resist discussing me. By people, I mean my Mama,Abah,Adik and the frequent visitors to this household ( some of whom read this blog quite religiously...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There's nothing much I do around the house nowadays. Plus the house is always quiet from 8 to 3 on most days. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What do a cat does in a quiet peaceful house? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yes, you guess it right!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When I'm done sleeping( which could last from 3 to 5 hours consecutively),I would get up to have my meals and prowl a bit. Chase away a few cats that dare to come into my territory and try to catch this and that with errr... little success.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Well, its not that I am less agile now,it just that I cant be bothered. I am going to be 7 soon ( nearly 50 in human years) and well, I think I have garnered enough wisdom for a cat my age. Life is too precious to spend chasing little insignificant things.The chasing in any case, was done so that I have the cardio part to complete my daily workout regiment, apart from warming up( I get it done by walking briskly to the kitchen where my bowl is) and stretching( everyone knows how good a cat can stretch right?)Enough said... I know, Mama is super jealous of me as unlike her, I always do my exercise in a very structured way! Mama, on the other hand, has all the knowledge but not enough discipline. Story of her life!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, there's nothing much I can relay here. Life is about the same as before...and you have heard all the drama in Mama's previous entry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last couple of months were as strenuous on me as to the other members of the family. I was left to manage the house alone most of the times. And I hated it! And it was made worse as I couldnt stand the smell of paints. Plus one of the painters keep trying to pet me and even tried to pick me up. I simply cannot tolerate total stranger touching me, let alone picking me up!! But well, looking at how please my surrogate mother is with the new colour scheme make it worth every hour I endured the painters and the smell. Mama insisted that the smell was not that bad as she purposely chose environmentally friendly paints with low odour,low VOC and what nots...She forgot that I have super efficient olfactory system. Sigh...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Nowadays life has gone back to normal I think. Mama and Adik are not moping around anymore...though they do discuss the late Tok Ayah every now and then. The three small incisions site near Adik's bellybutton are well healed now. I was scolded quite a few times for jumping on her stomach during those post-operation early days .</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ok guys..I think this is quite enough. I must go back to sleep now. The cool air and the overcast sky are just sooo conducive to shut-eye moments.....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Till then....Wassalamualaikum.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Dr.M.Grey </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">N.B please excuse the title..I just cannot think of anything suitable for this nonsensical entry!</span></span><br />
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Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-27008033275860315952012-08-30T22:30:00.004+08:002012-08-31T08:20:31.885+08:00MEMORIES OF RAMADHAN 1433H...<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Life has been hectic since before Ramadhan. Kakchik Ila 'checked-in' at our house a few days prior to her admission into HUSM for her prosthesis replacement operation. It was supposed to be a time-out for Mama and Kakchik as a preparation for Kakchik's long stay in hospital thereafter.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just before Ramadhan Kakchik went into the operation theatre and endured 6 grueling hours in there. Toksu came to take over looking after Kakchik and many of our relatives that mostly stay in KL came to visit. So, we were kept busy almost all the time, nevertheless, enjoying every minute of it. By this time Abah has left the country on official affairs and the long-delayed home re-painting project just started. So, without Abah around,I was quite harassed to say the least.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Kakchik's and her prosthesis need another entry on its own...InsyaAllah, one day soon.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our plan to frequent Kakchik's hospital room to have <i>iftaar</i> with her could not be realised. On the first day of Ramadhan Adik and me made a point to have <i>iftaar</i> with the late Tok Ayah and Moktok knowing that it it would make them happy. Tok Ayah had been unwell for quite sometimes, having problem with his bowel, but he still look okay on that day, eating well during<i> iftaar</i>. <span style="font-size: small;">(Eating well as in his usual way of eating very little as was his practise for many years to keep on with the sunnah of our prophet as to his understanding.)</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> We came back after Maghrib prayer despite his asking us to stay and has <i>suhoor</i> with them as it was school day the next day and I did not trust myself to drive in early morning to catch Adik's bus to school should we sleep there.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ramadhan 6th, I went to help a friend <span style="font-size: small;">(aka my business partner)</span> at some program organized by state government and we were just finishing when Abang Muhammad who is staying at Tok Ayah's called and said Tok Ayah has taken ill last night. Alhamdulillah it was Thursday, meaning no school day the day after. So I fetched Adik from school and dumped our stuff in an overnighter bag. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We tended to him as he couldnt move very much by that time. Maktok had put him in diapers as he couldnt control his bowel movement anymore and we helped cleaned him at every prayer time, changed into fresh diaper,helped him with his ablution and he would pray lying down and then doze off again.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It broke my heart to see him in that way....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He woke up later on and asked me to feed him something cold, much to Maktok's relief as he had not been eating anything since the night before. After a few spoonfuls of <i>cendul</i> in milk, I went to the kitchen to fetch more ice on his request. Surprised I was to find him sitting up obviously by himself, waiting for me to continue feed him...just an hour before he couldnt even lift his arm! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He ate and drink the milk steadily and almost finished the whole bowl.....Adik then finished the little that remained.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We slept near him and he only woke once, again asking for something cold to drink . We were at ease by the morning and even made a joke that Tok Ayah were just being <i>manja</i> and wanted his children to come gather around him. Maktok teased him repeatedly...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the morning, after he was cleaned and resting, I sat near him and started to continue my Quran recitation softly as he looked like as if he was asleep. As I was reciting, he asked me without opening his eyes, why wasnt I reciting <i>al-Kahfi</i> as it was Friday.I explained that I've passed that <i>surah</i> the day before and I need to read continuously to meet my targeted number of Qur'an <i>khatams </i>for this Ramadhan. But he insisted that I read again and remind me never to skip it again as it is a <i>sunnah</i>. InsyaAllah I will always remember that and I hope you two will too. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In his old age, Tok Ayah always <i>khatam</i> his Qur'an readings in every two weeks.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">By Saturday morning most of his children have gathered around him and he looked please though still weak. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cajoled by his favourite first-born son, your Ayah Long, he managed to eat pureed potassium rich fruits like bananas and grapes. He progressed from praying in lying position into sitting. By Sunday afternoon, some of my siblings went back to their respective homes<span style="font-size: small;">(in KL mostly)</span> with the promise to come back again as we have sort of made loose arrangement to make sure that there would always be at least one family are home with Tok Ayah at any time during this Ramadhan.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Monday morning,the house was full with children and grandchildren, and waking up for <i>suhoor</i>, most came and gathered around him . He asked for some cold milk and then urged them to go and have <i>suhoor</i> before it was too late. He was aware of the time and of everyone. He even asked about Abah as Abah was still <i>en route </i>home at that time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All the men in the family then adjourned to the mosque for fajr prayer and and on returning, most went back to sleep. Except for Ayah Ji and Ayah Yie. Ayah Ji went to enquire about him and he told Ayah Ji not to worry about him as its only his body that was hurting, his soul was otherwise very well...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Tok Ayah then asked them to switch off the lights. Ayah Yie, a doctor as well,then requested to let the lights on again as he wanted to take Tok Ayah's blood pressure. Bewildered he was to find that he could not register any reading. He told Ayah Ji and they immediately called us and in that delicate moments Tok Ayah was looking up and smiling at some thing and Ayah Ji recited the <i>kalimah</i> and Tok Ayah clearly pronounced it and then, he was gone. Just like that...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When the rest of us arrived at his bedside, we were astounded,speechless and...well, I couldnt find any more words to describe our feelings....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So Tok Ayah is no more with us....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We tried hard to fulfill all his last wishes that he had whispered a few days before.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To ensure that only his children handled his j<i>anazah</i>...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and to be sure everything must be done in accordance with <i>sunnah</i>...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But Tok Ayah was a teacher unlike the teachers of today</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">His students loved him like their own father and they came from everywhere...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And then,more importantly, he was the one that started the work of<i> da'awah</i> in our village...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, you can imagine how many hearts he had touched and how much love the village has for him...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Everyone wanted to take part in preparing for his last journey.....</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and we couldnt possibly stop them.</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Alhamdulillah we managed to keep things as close as to what Tok Ayah had wished for....</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Abang and a few other grandchildren in far away lands did not manage to see Tok Ayah for the last time...and they all were heartbroken for Tok Ayah was much loved by everyone. Subhanallah,Tok Ayah looked ever so serene and everyone who looked noticed it....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I was still in daze two days later when Adik told me while putting on her school uniform that she had this pain on her right-side of her tummy area and she didnt sleep at all the night before. Such high threshold for pain does this girl has!! Unlike me at all...Adik didnt bother to wake us up and even preparing to go to school!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Abah performed some tests and called his surgeon friend and we brought Adik straight to the hospital. By 1 o'clock Adik was already in the OT and Dr Zaidi performed laparoscopic appendicectomy on her. The appendix that was taken out was big and inflamed. Adik was, MasyaAllah , a brave girl...while I was a mushy mum! She was comforting me instead of me her...just imagine! We spent two nights in the staff ward and Adik got a medical leave up until Eid...</span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All in all, it was all sooo tiring and I was left exhausted physically and emotionally...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But, Alhamdulillah ala kullihaal...in the last ten days of Ramadhan when Abah went to his yearly practise of full<i> i'tikaaf</i>, <i>sakeenah</i> dawned upon us all and I think this is the most tranquil Ramadhan I ever had.....</span></span><br />
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Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-4698383441526596842012-07-31T16:04:00.000+08:002012-07-31T16:04:56.790+08:00A BLESSED ENDING....<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yesterday, Monday 10th of Ramadhan 1433H at 6.50AM, my beloved,kind,ever-smiling,pious father, your most gentle and caring grandfather, HJ MUSTAFA B MUHAMMAD departed from this world.....</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Cant write much about it yet. Not until I can chase away these small black birds that are still flying around my heart,humming sad tunes. Till then...</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(wrote about him </span><a href="http://cerita-mama.blogspot.com/2008/11/two-tok-ayahs.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">here </a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">sometimes before...)</span>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-4522430995206007412012-07-05T21:02:00.000+08:002012-07-05T21:02:50.154+08:00OUR BASHFUL BOY.....<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, I do realise that its already July and I didnt deliver my monthly entry in June as promised to my two beloved children. Sorry <i><span style="font-size: large;">ya</span></i> Abang and Adik...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, here I am writing in early July and hopefully will write again at the end of this month to make up for last month's. <span style="font-size: small;">(Children, I'm trying to set a good example here on fulfilling any promises made, if you cannot tell already).</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Abang was home for a very short break of 4 days in June. And it was made to feel shorter as we immediately left home after he arrived to attend Tok Su's <i>kenduri</i> in Bangi. It was a wedding reception of Abang Faiq and Kak Min. Alhamdulillah, both Abang and Adik made us proud for the <i>khidmat</i> they both did at Tok Su's. We arrived home late Saturday night and on Sunday morning Abang caught the flight back to Penang. He didnt have enough time to enjoy the newly-fitted air conditioner unit in his bedroom!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's a story behind this air-conditioner thingy...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Abang was younger, he was, well...a bit too 'soft' for a boy. Yes, it was our fault, we must admit. Okay, okay, its MY fault! <span style="font-size: small;">Satisfied Abah?</span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, not to elaborate his<i> manja</i>ness thus embarrassing him, suffice to say that we got worried when he was about 7 and still cried whenever he had a fight with Adik...Adik, on the other hand, rarely cried. You were a lot tougher when you were smaller Dik. Nowadays, everything seems to has undergone a 360 degree changes though!!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaH8r1bWbH9m2NQnOziGWkQyzM1_Ui3C3WA_emfZhmBRewSYjFeKxJpLC7TbIsM9i7Y25qugD31H4CDY2OVx6i-Kb6Pw9A93ur2JO1kHVoNFFDn06AaZKSSa1kX0LMh7A6imaxziigY0/s1600/gambar+Adiknabang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEaH8r1bWbH9m2NQnOziGWkQyzM1_Ui3C3WA_emfZhmBRewSYjFeKxJpLC7TbIsM9i7Y25qugD31H4CDY2OVx6i-Kb6Pw9A93ur2JO1kHVoNFFDn06AaZKSSa1kX0LMh7A6imaxziigY0/s400/gambar+Adiknabang.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the playroom- while Abang was always a tad too prim and proper, the tough Adik would eat everything including flashcards and books.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">So, Abah and me had a discussion and somehow we came to decide that we have to start being more firm with Abang, in every aspect. You two were still sharing a bedroom at that time and we soon decided for you to sleep separately. So we converted the playroom into Abang's new room and decided not to fit it with air-conditioning unit as one of our strategies to toughen Abang up hahaha...and no goose feather pillows for Abang too!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alhamdulillah, I think it did work...at least when Abang first entered <i>madrasah</i> he didnt make any complain about the sleeping arrangement! </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now, after nearly 3 years in the madrasah, Abang has become totally different from the boy who once would only eat mostly white-coloured food, very particular about what he was gonna wear and cannot tolerate any stain on his clothing, amongst many other things. <strike>(hmm...writing these down somehow made sense of what Abah said...I was the one who influenced him in the first place, oh no!!!)</strike></span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As Abang now travels the distance of nearly 400km between home and madrasah on his own regularly, we are convinced that Abang is tough enough hehehe...Not to mention going to mosque in the dawn and dusk alone if Abah is not home and is always ready to lend his muscle in any situation. He is certainly most helpful and very handy to have around when you need help MasyaAllah. And good influence on Adik too...Adik's degree of <i>rajin</i>ness always climb a few notches higher when Abang's home...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When he's home, post<i> ta'alim</i> sessions , Abang would come and <i>lepak </i>either in our room or Adik's and would reluctantly retired to his not so cool room at sleeping time. During hot season, it'll be worse as his room is on the west part, thus absorbing the full brunt of afternoon sun. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So,we gave him a surprise this time around...I even put in a brand new bed cover to spruce things up. <span style="font-size: small;">( Abang is very particular about having one on top of his bed sheet) </span>. He arrived home by bus after <i>Asr</i> and stepped in his room. We were waiting to hear what he was going to say. If it was Adik, we would be sure of the reaction as she is one expressive girl, but Abang is totally on the opposite. So we heard nothing at all....and he came out to have dinner and Abah had to ask him! And he looked at us and gave a w-i-i-i-i-d-e smile with his big shining eyes that said a thousand words. And Abah, Adik and Mama have a BIIIIG laugh!!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's our Abang, who very rarely ask for anything and always very appreciative when is given something. May Allah increases His <i>rahmah</i> on him, InsyaAllah...</span></div>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-5851210042753895332012-05-31T13:04:00.000+08:002014-10-14T18:59:23.697+08:00GARDENING N REFLECTING....Looking around my (so-called) garden got me thinking...<br />
About life in general.<br />
How we strive for something and arrive at the result. Sometimes we achieve more ,yet sometimes less than what we expect , regardless of our effort, though the hardworking ones( or more accurately, those who work smart and disciplined ) will usually reap more.<br />
At other times though, we do not get it at all.<br />
But there are times that we get what we do not make any effort whatsoever towards it and yet it brings smiles to our lips when it appears. We feel blessed, provided that we are the kind of people who never take things for granted, however small it is...<br />
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It boils down to how we are actually totally dependable on Almighty Allah.<br />
We make effort as it is required of us ( and make do'a , of course)...but the end result is wholly HIS.<br />
And HE wants to see how grateful we are to His bounty.<br />
Verily those who are grateful will surely get more...<br />
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As I am so much into gardening now, I visit many gardening blogs, gawking at the colourful healthy-looking plants people post on their blogs. And read their notes, learning one or two new things everyday. And comparing them with my unkempt wild-looking garden. I envy those neat-looking gardens with awesome produce.<br />
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But then, I found many interesting things as well...<br />
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I found in my backyard many plants that other people have been tending well and yet are not satisfied with the result. I made a small effort of planting them long ago and they grew so well that now, they have become weeds!! Valuable weeds though, I must add. Alhamdulillah. They are everywhere, providing us with colours, smell and nutrients...<br />
They are almost always there even if the gardener cut them close to ground at an interval. Very resilient indeed. One of them is this sawtooth coriander.<br />
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Then, there are those that crop up just like that...weeds too, but very beneficial. No effort made whatsoever. MasyaAllah...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunga telang for nasi kerabu,ginseng leaves for ulam n added into soup,pepperomia for the salad bowl and ulam raja,the all time favourite</td></tr>
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In my February posting I wrote about the plants that I started growing. Alhamdulillah, they grew well and were pleasantly and proudly presented in our meals ( especially those salad leaves), except for one. The spinach. They just refused to flourish as as well as others and before I knew it, they have started bolting. We didnt get to eat any of them...<br />
But surprise,surprise....<br />
A couple of days ago, I took a close look at some greens that have been growing at the spot where the Pakcik Gardener burns the odds cutting that are too big to go into our compost heap. And, Subhanallah, I found them spinach!!! Healthy green perfect spinach...<br />
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As for the compost heap,in the past we have had tomato cherries and eggplants from it!!They all just grow from the kitchen scraps that we threw in.<br />
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But then,I almost never have success with chilli. I fussed and fussed over them. Picking up the bugs that just love to nestle under their leaves with my own bare hands...much to the amazement of Abah! Feed them plants with fertilizer and my home-made enzyme...to no use.<br />
As much as all of us loves chilli in our food, the chilli just doesnt love our soil I guess. Its okay though. Alhamdulillah 'ala kullihaal.<br />
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But I will keep trying.<br />
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The inedible ornamental plants also behave much the same...<br />
I got these pretty butterfly plants everywhere, after buying one small pot of it in a nursery looong time ago.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Oxalis triangularis being the proper name.</td></tr>
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And this pretty torenia that keeps cropping up everywhere...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">disguising amongst the salad leaves...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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This one never fail to delight me...and others too. Toksu, C.Lah and Tok are always happy to receive them and they are good as food as well as in flower bowls.</div>
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Just last week we used two fully blossomed ones to decorate fruit basket for K.Long Syida's engagement do.<br />
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There are many other exciting plants in our front and backyard that I couldnt possibly upload all..but if you take a walk in my garden, you are sure to feel blessed...at least I DO!!<br />
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Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-33122275001248007082012-04-30T19:16:00.001+08:002014-09-05T22:43:09.027+08:00AT THE BOOK FAIR...Two days ago, Adik and me found ourselves suffocated amongst people and books...<br />
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Yes, we were at the 2012 International Book Fair at PWTC. With a nod from Abah when asked whether we could buy just about anything we fancy, off we went high-spiritedly.<br />
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We were staying at Sunway Putra Hotel which is just across the road from where the fair is taking place. And Abah has taken me the day before, so there's no wonder here why I was so brave as to go without him. Adik didnt join us on the first trip as she was having fun at the ice-skating rink with Kakak Rahil, Kak Iybah, Kak Maryam, Aqim and others. As for me, I didnt have chance to actually look at 'my kind of books' as I was following Abah on his medical books shopping spree! Yes, a spree it really was as he got to spend thousands and thousands of RM on his choice of books....Mind you, not one cent came out of his own pocket though. He was buying for HUSM library!! Still, I was green with envy...All those serious books were on the 3rd floor and we spent almost the whole afternoon there. I fancied some books on nutrition while tagging Abah but as they were newly published books, there were no discount on them. Abah, on the other hand, didnt even have to look at the price tag! <br />
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Adik screamed when she heard that we went to book fair without her...Fret not Adik, I said...we are going again!!<br />
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So, there we were...Adik went quite crazy picking this and that books and Mama was quite cool as I have more or less made up my mind the day before of what to get.<br />
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Here are some photos for you to look in future Adik...and to show off to Abang, hehe.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxzunq1oXKKIF09WRK50Khd3JmDkwVKS9WydNpUlinACXvRzXfqroxkygnlE0pHaz7bu5YZHWmNGZiBXMTQ1efanLqZTeWbhdEcRqtkqQX7WcYuTsQPbfWF3qotrGXOgUKDbuzkmtGOs/s1600/20120428_125533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxzunq1oXKKIF09WRK50Khd3JmDkwVKS9WydNpUlinACXvRzXfqroxkygnlE0pHaz7bu5YZHWmNGZiBXMTQ1efanLqZTeWbhdEcRqtkqQX7WcYuTsQPbfWF3qotrGXOgUKDbuzkmtGOs/s640/20120428_125533.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the catch of the day...all at heavily discounted prices.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AmNxNq9BwD8Jc53myFZEAyzoyEwZ1N1-IB8w5HUiQ13kjLxBTH9K235wOC_zTtz2E1ezNwIEZWGYF8ePTwWoLrxL3K4F51OUMa0SFGaYI8RKA0qnVAB2l3-gcuQk5W0Pl0o2vbA77Uc/s1600/20120428_144927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9AmNxNq9BwD8Jc53myFZEAyzoyEwZ1N1-IB8w5HUiQ13kjLxBTH9K235wOC_zTtz2E1ezNwIEZWGYF8ePTwWoLrxL3K4F51OUMa0SFGaYI8RKA0qnVAB2l3-gcuQk5W0Pl0o2vbA77Uc/s320/20120428_144927.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adik cant wait to bury her nose in books( as well as a box of cinnabon)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-77515721176341483262012-03-29T13:06:00.001+08:002013-03-29T18:39:49.534+08:00SHE'S 13 AND HE'S 15... <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">February 19th and March 5th this year, Adik and Abang became 13 and 15 respectively. The journey into challenging adolescence life thus began for both of you. Its not gonna be easy...a fact acknowledged by all parents worldwide but seems to elude the teenagers themselves. And Adik especially <span style="font-size: small;">( as she's living at home with me) </span>could tell that how often I emphasize on this issue alone. Working with those teenagers with social problem at the shelter home, seeing them on the streets, watching them on the idiot box only reaffirm my fear. I never want you two to go through life the same way as most the teenagers today do. They seems to exist with nary a care in the world except for having the latest gadgets so that they have uninterrupted social life. And, its their interpretation of social life that worry me most....</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am constantly feeling grateful that Abang is in a <i>madrassah.</i> That alone has eliminated half of the challenges he might be facing outside. We as parents, works the other half with lots and lots of <i>do'a.</i> I admit that I worry more on you Adik...being a girl and having to go through daily life as a student in a normal school environment. Regardless of it being an all girl school and a religious one to boot, I can easily see that constant supervision from us is never to be dwindled.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Okay, I know that I have to be very grateful for so many things that Allah has bestows upon you two. Abah , times and again, has reminded me to be more realistic, as I tend to have a suspicious mind and it irritates both Abah and Adik. I cant help it!!! Listening to those teenagers at the shelter home recount their life stories put me there!! I have seen and heard cases of all kinds. And how it could happen to just about anybody. So, Adik and Abang, when you are reading this in future, maybe as parents yourself, you would understand my stance and would forgive me for giving you never-ending lectures at every single opportunity!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I do feel blessed that both of you are born healthy and are still in sound condition physically and emotionally. And I am grateful that both of you needed no prompting anymore in doing all the basic requirements of our religion, <i>Alhamdulillah</i>. As for Abang, <i>MasyaAllah</i>, he's doing lots more than the basics. And Adik too, is catching up. Academically too, I have not much to worry about. So, all in all, people could say that I have nothing to worry about...but, I do!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Because I want you two to be better in the eyes of Allah....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Forward thinking is the way to go. We are not living our life just for this moment. Or our near future. We are living it for our final destination...And there's no other way of doing it except for sticking to sunnah way of life, really have to grip it as hard as we can. The lifestyle of today, on the contrary, seems to pry us away and away from it...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, Abang and Adik...in a nutshell, what exactly we are hoping from you are, for you two to live this life fully aware that you are answerable to every single thing you do. All your action will have effect on you and your surrounding. Life is not supposed to be easy, it's a big test for all of us....</span></span>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-41606571418170784892012-02-29T09:57:00.002+08:002012-03-21T09:19:35.962+08:00Errr...EXCUSES?<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh no, its the last day of February already!!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am SO going to write something today so as not to be accused of breaking my promise to Adik to at least post one entry in a month. She is already upset as it is, as she was expecting me to post something on her birthday few days ago.<i><span style="font-size: small;">( Sorry Sayang, InsyaAllah next month ya, sekali dengan Abang's birthday.)</span></i></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After dragging ever so slowly in the last month, February seems to come charging at me with a vengeance. To begin with, Alhamdulillah, the gym got a new trainer. A proper one this time. She comes with a degree in Sports Science and have worked with athletes in National Sports Council (MSN). Needless to say, I am being constantly 'tortured' three times a week now. For my own good that is...So, there goes three morning in a week, another morning goes to my work at the shelter home and the last day in the week is supposed to be spent in discussion with my business partner. Then come Fridays for <i>majlis ilmu</i> and Saturdays for letting our hair down at either Tok Ayahs' places. See, I have no free mornings that I can sit and write Adik. Please understand ya!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">A brief rest after Zuhr and there I go braving the traffic across the town to fetch Adik from school. The journey to and fro takes one hour of my time, come back and busied myself cooking dinner. Okay, the dinner is always a quick one, nothing fancy, just something grilled, big bowl of salad and some kind of bread. But still...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Evenings are spent doing exercises on my Arabic lessons. I am now <span style="font-size: small;">(proudly haha)</span> able to make simple sentences. Before bedtimes, I teach Abah whatever I have learnt on that particular day . Strangely enough, Abah seems to be able to make longer sentences than me. His daily numerous text messaging to me now are all in Arabic. It really is NOT fair! I guess his frequent trips to those universities in Makkah and Madinah for his Hajj research does help. He has more vocab than me...However, his <i>nahw</i> ( arabic grammar) are all down the drain ... Adik likens Abah's speaking Arabic to the Roald Dahl's Big Friendly Giant's speaking English. And Abah was offended,hehe.. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Anyway.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my last <i>alasan</i> is these;</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaELgp6YQyNAXlV-ZznlSrXx7DnnRwSJmG7vweTTS-iPx06wGeQFVuCo1YyIYpBoIH1rVE20ymrhyUoaf-Z6AcyTrSSmrMxgy3oZDeL102hYKS3uIrFPf9tzGSF0q2EPHABdiCKQJh6c/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaELgp6YQyNAXlV-ZznlSrXx7DnnRwSJmG7vweTTS-iPx06wGeQFVuCo1YyIYpBoIH1rVE20ymrhyUoaf-Z6AcyTrSSmrMxgy3oZDeL102hYKS3uIrFPf9tzGSF0q2EPHABdiCKQJh6c/s320/006.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Green Parade Salad</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q3pZ1wsH5DojoJPE_DOjzXA8F7GJzyjVP8b89PsDLVFLnLrnyyQMaSmz059sx2AsVSIN-AXwQdBKqtXgw29DDkauUpYw-RsNbKLmx_1Zd-YbQYwPdNc8qlm0YebNzm56ZDZgYmhG2zs/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Q3pZ1wsH5DojoJPE_DOjzXA8F7GJzyjVP8b89PsDLVFLnLrnyyQMaSmz059sx2AsVSIN-AXwQdBKqtXgw29DDkauUpYw-RsNbKLmx_1Zd-YbQYwPdNc8qlm0YebNzm56ZDZgYmhG2zs/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hawaiian Salad</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnHWepV4vJ7evKlmsVMDhTdFbm-gnRSbQHxzKRBJvRUCNLQ34hGk9gV4Xu7jlQCVaCf78zR4vxxrV84B0k5zmSSiBab_ePjEWI2HFz4t38NWj_gn1eppjii6-To3wEGkUjYSphI8Z90g/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrnHWepV4vJ7evKlmsVMDhTdFbm-gnRSbQHxzKRBJvRUCNLQ34hGk9gV4Xu7jlQCVaCf78zR4vxxrV84B0k5zmSSiBab_ePjEWI2HFz4t38NWj_gn1eppjii6-To3wEGkUjYSphI8Z90g/s320/016.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cucumber plants that seriously need staking <span style="font-size: small;">(for Abah's attention!)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELYz3HsmEp1pUCM0kmpP2NPn60FlXFk8meeMi18R-kErzUPIZNMYaX0axquRz8CZvjrYz2UMO91iLg2I-eimr2gkUZw9BbIhqq4FFW1emdE033PJ1pp-3zuAH14KcDtz7mOul47ADhk8/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELYz3HsmEp1pUCM0kmpP2NPn60FlXFk8meeMi18R-kErzUPIZNMYaX0axquRz8CZvjrYz2UMO91iLg2I-eimr2gkUZw9BbIhqq4FFW1emdE033PJ1pp-3zuAH14KcDtz7mOul47ADhk8/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bayam Hijau Daun Tajam</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNsVeWIEM7DznOFOrUC9dXFNX2KbJ0GgKGbXM-PLjz74OBvZnXMi0eHi0NQvMEuC3nv6CZIT3jALA4ntyA5YagYuSaBMJoAEAEXbsrxGzBXH2aVLBrphH2HPZviSErzUawUDYmU24UQA/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNsVeWIEM7DznOFOrUC9dXFNX2KbJ0GgKGbXM-PLjz74OBvZnXMi0eHi0NQvMEuC3nv6CZIT3jALA4ntyA5YagYuSaBMJoAEAEXbsrxGzBXH2aVLBrphH2HPZviSErzUawUDYmU24UQA/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Newly sprouting Sawi Hong Kong</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnwezcJvotDtnnxtTzU5YUSf4sk5VG80pqKvlMY0oo6DAuGyVPAmp-luId15Xug9Q_1UhHlY8PHpTT-iibyzOi-lYrJ4Q-oMxOV_4V90wgXspD3ShyphenhyphenZAYZpa956NFrDZ1q5_d1Yb-i24/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVnwezcJvotDtnnxtTzU5YUSf4sk5VG80pqKvlMY0oo6DAuGyVPAmp-luId15Xug9Q_1UhHlY8PHpTT-iibyzOi-lYrJ4Q-oMxOV_4V90wgXspD3ShyphenhyphenZAYZpa956NFrDZ1q5_d1Yb-i24/s400/002.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and all those came in this package...</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">See, I have successfully grown salad<span style="font-size: small;">(amongst other veges)</span>! Something I thought was only possible on highlands with colder temperature. How ignorant I was <span style="font-size: small;">( and still am in many other areas!)</span>. I spend the early mornings after Abah and Adik leave the house right there in our backyard. It takes quite sometimes as I try to do organic gardening, meaning I have to resort to picking all those <i>ulats</i> with my own fingers!! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Thanks <a href="http://www.tanamsendiri.com/">En Iskandar</a> for sending many other free packets of seeds along with the ones that I paid for.I am spoilt for choice when choosing which seeds to be planted first!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> It got me thinking the abundance of<i> pahala</i> he and others who practise this seeds sharing in the blogsphere would get. Just imagine, people grow the veges, eat them, and got the seed to be planted again and again. Its <i>amal jariah </i>for them, MasyaAllah.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, got to go now...my meeting with my partner is cancelled today as she is attending a course, so off I am to the salon for the long overdue hair treatment...</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">p/s</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 1. harap segala alasan2 Mama di terima seadanya ya Dik</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 2. Thanks Adik... for creating new header and all...but I am now going to change my password as I have quite enough of different header and colour every so often. So, go play with your own blog ok, and leave mine alone!! </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-45541593037335875222012-01-30T16:54:00.002+08:002012-03-28T21:44:25.324+08:00GLOOMY JANUARY<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After the frenzy at the end of 2011, the beginning of 2012 seems to be sluggish for me. When Adik started schooling , I was overcome by a feeling of melancholy. After having her home constantly for over a month, I felt the days stretched too long and I was wishing the school hours that end at 2pm would end sooner. It somehow escaped my mind that the primary school she used to attend for 6 years ended at 4pm everyday except Thursday ! The weather doesnt help either...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Matter was made worse when my gym instructor, a sweet, friendly and most helpful young girl, involved in a motor vehicle accident and died instantly. I was with her on Thursday and on Friday she was gone forever. I got the news at home and was very thankful that Abah was around as I needed a shoulder to cry on. Adik was attending the <i>tamrin </i>as a part of the school's orientation week program. When we picked her up later in the afternoon and conveyed the news to her, Adik too burst into tears. Over the school holidays,Adik regularly accompanied me to the gym and had become close with the late Nik as she would spent time while waiting for me, either on the net or chatting with the late Nik ( if nobody needed Nik's attention).</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of us, Adik and me, all my gym buddies and her co-workers are missing her a lot and we still talk about her from time to time. We kept reminiscing how she would go extra miles to make our sessions at the gym fun and beneficial for us. How she was always open to suggestion from us, the <i>makciks</i>. She was the only girl in her family and was engaged to be married soon. One could only imagine how hard the news affected her own family. I couldnt bear going near the building for more than two weeks.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adik and me especially had a good long talk about her death and we mutually agreed that we should appreciate everyone we know more, and be more forgiving to others even if they might have hurt us, as we never know when they or we are going to be called back to our <i>Rabb</i>.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the following week, another young person that we have never actually met, but the family has a close relationship with us, also died tragically while fighting narcotic addiction. As the family related how hard the effort he made to change, and how the wardens actually witnessed him recited the <i>shahadah</i> before closing his eyes permanently, we gleaned another lesson here. We shouldnt be quick in judging others at all. And as we talked about it on the car later, I felt that I could relate to how addiction was so hard to fight. Even in our all sound faculties, its not easy for us to control, say, our unhealthy eating habit, let alone to fight something that has gotten grip of our whole being.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">January progressed with more depressing news. A close friend of mine was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, another close associate faced another crisis in her life, a cousin trying to weather the storm that is brewing in her marriage and a shocking revelation from someone who confided in me how she is actually a hermaphrodite and asking for help...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These are all strong women who face the trial with <i>redha</i> and I learn priceless lessons from all of them.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, Abah got an attack of severe vertigo. He used to get it every few years, the first one while we were in the UK about 17 years ago. Initially,I was not alarmed as it usually last for a day and then he would get better and wont show up again for a few years. But this time, it recurred after two weeks. Abah was listening to the <i>khutbah Jumaat</i> when it hit again for the second time. (The first one was while he was waiting for iftar at home with me.) He managed to finish the prayer sitting down and vomited right after that. When Adik saw a car stopped and three people carrying a man into our house, she called me and said somebody's sick and came to see Abah. Then Adik got to see how sick Abah was...She was at the said <i>tamrin</i> when the first one occurred and was like 3 years old when the previous episode took place.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In this very last week , I finally gather enough strength to resume my normal activity. I have been to the gym and have been sprouting seeds for our edible garden. I bought the seeds from <a href="http://www.tanamsendiri.com/">here</a>. And teach myself Arabic. And started my class again at the shelter home <span style="font-size: small;">(after a two-month hiatus as I need some respite)</span>. And read, a lot.Currently, I'm reading<a href="http://selfprescription.blogspot.com/2012/01/beli-buku-dari-penulis.html"> this.</a></span>(InsyaAllah I'll be writing more about my salad growing and about the very beneficial book)<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adik is happier now. In the first two weeks, I have to deal with her mood swings as she was missing her friends from primary school. Most of them chose to be in full boarding school, so they couldnt even meet on weekends. She would cry for no reasons and all I can do is hug her....</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">There's some uplifting news too, to be fair.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ayah Long is a Dato' now, being knighted by the <i>Agong</i> and Ummi and Abi are grandparents as Achik produced a super cute baby girl.This technically made Abang and Adik, uncle and aunty as both of you suckled from Ummi, my most beloved oldest sister.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And funny news too. We discovered that the girl wedded to the famous TV3 presenter is actually one of the girls that showed us around <a href="http://cerita-mama.blogspot.com/2009/12/seoul-story.html">Seoul</a> when we were there.And we have photos of her <i>sans</i> hijab and Adik edited the photo here as she was asking for anyone who has photos of her on fb or blogs etc to please respect her new image...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, that is a looong account of our <span style="font-size: small;">(mostly depressing)</span> January. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anyway, we still have so much to be thankful of...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's hoping for a better month ahead...<span style="font-size: small;">( and more cheerful entry!)</span></span></div>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-42963530065052204572011-12-30T12:50:00.003+08:002012-02-11T10:33:17.343+08:00FAREWELL 2011, WELCOME 2012...<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">2012 is looming and the auditor who keeps checking on this unworthy blog keeps harping on me to update...<span style="font-size: x-small;">do you really have to?</span> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Its not that I dont want to update but December, as always, is a hectic month. To begin with, lots of <i>walimahs</i> to attend, high on list was the one for both Mak Uda's daughters who got hitched on the same day and were feted in one big <i>kenduri </i>to save cost, <span style="font-size: large;">hehe</span> <span style="font-size: small;">(as Mak Uda has so many children!!)</span>. Our beloved Kak Naheed and Kakchik Khadijah are now wives...Alhamdulillah. So, we were in KL for almost a week, then back to Kelantan for another round of <i>walimahs </i>of various friends and relatives. Then off to Penang to visit Abang of course. </span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In between those times, we did <i>nusrah</i> for <i>jamaats</i> that came to our mosque. As it was raining almost everyday, we took the task of washing their clothes and the drier never stop spinning.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then, came the preparation for Adik's new world in secondary school...Right after the <i>UPSR</i> result was announced, the application form for the much sought after school, namely <i>Maahad Muhammadi (P) </i>was promptly filled up. Adik was then called up for an oral test followed by a written one. Alhamdulillah, with so much <i>do'a</i>s from all of us, Adik got a place. There were 840 students competed for 400 places allocated. A scramble for all spanking new school uniforms and fees to be deposited in school's account, amongst other things, followed. Then only could we relax a bit...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And to end 2011 on a good note, we went out for 3 days in <i>Masturat Jamaat</i> so that we could remind ourselves again and again on the importance of having constant worry on our <i>imaan</i> and <i>amaal</i>. Alhamdulillah, Adik picked up another good habit this time, which is reading 2 pages of the holy <i>Qur'an</i> upon finishing every <i>fardh solat</i>. By <i>Isya'</i>, she would have read 1 <i>juz</i>,MasyaAllah....May Allah gives Adik <i>taufeeq </i>to hold on to this good practice throughout her life...In the last <i>khuruj</i> she participated, Adik picked up the good habit of performing ablution before going to bed and it seems to stick, Alhamdulillah. May Allah choose all of us again and again to go out on the path of Allah to learn <i>Deen</i> , to correct ourselves, to restrain our <i>nafs</i> and to learn to live our lives according to the way of those who had been declared <i>radhiallahu 'anhum </i>.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, in a few days time, we will have a change of our timetable. As Adik's new school is quite a distance away and a stay in school hostel was ruled out,<span style="font-size: small;">(for the house would be very lonely without you)</span> we have to start early. No more dilly-dallying in the morning as you used to. It will take some times to get used to it and stronger willpower of course. For the whole 6 years of primary schooling, with the timing of a private school and the fact that the school is just in our vicinity,Adik could afford to iron her uniforms, finish up homeworks and even memorised few<i> ayaah</i>s from the holy book before setting off to school.No more of it <i>ya</i> Dik....</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Its quite a task for Mama and Abah too... We have mapped out the shortest and least congested road though, with the help of google map no less haha!! InsyaAllah, we are quite sure you could handle it well Adik...Abang was faced with harder challenge when he entered the <i>madrasah</i> and he adjusted really well and seems to flourish even more in stricter regime...</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lastly, we are praying that 2012 will be a better year for all of us...Abang aims to finish his <i>hafadzan</i> in 2012, Adik to learn more religious subjects in Arabic. It is actually the single most important reason why we choose <i>MMP</i> for Adik, not because it is arguably the best school in Kelantan or the fact that it has produced<a href="http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2009&dt=0313&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Pendidikan&pg=pe_01.htm"> the best student</a> who hold the record of 20As in SPM.</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> May Allah makes everything goes smoothly for both of you my beloved Abang and Adik.....</span></div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-22623456084327570962011-11-24T08:40:00.003+08:002012-01-22T18:46:18.558+08:00OUCH!! (part 2)<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just as everybody in this household is taking it for granted that I am all fit and healthy all year long, and they were all happily packing away to go for a short break, I decided to pull a quick one. Its a given anyway. I deserve extra attention once a year. And to get that, I must fell sick...</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">(and err... I kind of <a href="http://cerita-mama.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html">promised myself</a> to do this anyway)</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH9Sk1a6qaceF26in0kRFQqpBnMX9Of0BJv5b6upw4WGOBUbZG4bb0tnYuRgTg1NOP44iA19T3LtQbbQpL49zKnNUs8tOnhJwN0-TZh-jaAliTs0J1cKh-wX7P8Zbd2Xso2052Q1Lt_E/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieH9Sk1a6qaceF26in0kRFQqpBnMX9Of0BJv5b6upw4WGOBUbZG4bb0tnYuRgTg1NOP44iA19T3LtQbbQpL49zKnNUs8tOnhJwN0-TZh-jaAliTs0J1cKh-wX7P8Zbd2Xso2052Q1Lt_E/s320/158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I perched on the study table and stared and stared...<span style="font-size: small;">halooo,look at me!!!!</span> but they were so busy zipping and unzipping the bag again and again and didnt notice my staring at them with a crooked smile until the very last minute.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> And Adik shrieked!!! <span style="font-size: small;">Huh,at last I got your attention!.....</span>Yes, my lower canine tooth was falling out okay...it was juuust hanging on and kind of pointing out to one side already, causing the crooked smile as I couldnt close my mouth properly by then. And Mama shrieked even louder when she saw it. They fussed and fussed about me and I loved every minute of it!! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span id="goog_648461742"></span><span id="goog_648461743"></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The BIG questions were, was I in pain? Should they go ahead and try to pull it out? Was any of them brave enough to do that?</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> No answer to any of those...</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They wanted to consult Abah who had flown a day earlier to do some work, but decided against it as it was very late already. Abah must have gone to sleep. Mama then went online in search of advice and instructed Adik to look for signs of: </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><ul style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: large;">Red, irritated appearance of the gums</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Bad breath</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Rotten appearance of teeth </span></li>
</ul><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Alhamdulillah, none of it....From the net, Mama deduced that if a cat has teeth that are falling out, it can either be a completely normal process or one indicating that an underlying health condition exists.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They decided to deal with it tomorrow, kissed me goodnight and allowed me to sleep with them. YES!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I slept soundly but I know Mama didnt, because she had learned so much from the net just then and she was feeling guilty!!! The vet did check my teeth when we go for our yearly booster but he never said a thing about brushing teeth and Mama, ignorance in many things as she is, never seen anyone brushes cats' teeth in her life!! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2uKqD8GiPXfs4QMBlXmfksqROQTsjwng0QsFRQdZVUGBAbd_vLiweVaWXxTGib-KBmnbtC3xVkGiT2sN0dAkMVt41-bq3N7W6iKVecGcVziMVOBQHRXawO2zmtU6HRCP5BcSwzrPwck/s1600/160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2uKqD8GiPXfs4QMBlXmfksqROQTsjwng0QsFRQdZVUGBAbd_vLiweVaWXxTGib-KBmnbtC3xVkGiT2sN0dAkMVt41-bq3N7W6iKVecGcVziMVOBQHRXawO2zmtU6HRCP5BcSwzrPwck/s320/160.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Morning came and it was very chaotic. They had to catch their flight around noon but I was the priority here!! Matter was made worse when Abang called early in the morning asking Mama could she please send him a towel! He said he has been borrowing a friend's towel for the last few days...Mama was beyond shock!! <span style="font-size: small;">( <i>biasa la mama kan, </i>drama queen<i> sokmo!</i>) </span>How could he leave towels behind? Personal hygiene ranks very high in Mama's list, so she didnt take it very well when Abang said to just bring the towel when they come to visit .<span style="font-size: small;">(Abang said that after Mama exploded) </span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1SYDUS0NULxvmAXWEeYBIHODdT_Z9xpVR19hq5_y2QghrdLYA5Oo2obuFKxePwmIXspaLD63W-RgHi2XrhDCjnSLSOpHRteQzZZqxUJgReIFNJ3J_g2VqlOTUsuP0nnsgMAQ3EBZZu8/s1600/164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS1SYDUS0NULxvmAXWEeYBIHODdT_Z9xpVR19hq5_y2QghrdLYA5Oo2obuFKxePwmIXspaLD63W-RgHi2XrhDCjnSLSOpHRteQzZZqxUJgReIFNJ3J_g2VqlOTUsuP0nnsgMAQ3EBZZu8/s400/164.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Well, in my opinion, Abang shouldnt be blamed. It was frantic the day he left. On the first day of <i>Eid-al-Adha </i>we slaughtered 2 cows on our backyard , shared mostly with Abah and Mama's siblings. So, you can imagine the full house with cousins <span style="font-size: small;">( an occasion very much enjoyed by Abang and Adik of course)</span> and the works that followed after. Abang helped out a lot. Yes, it was a <a href="http://cerita-mama.blogspot.com/2008/12/apprentice.html">yearly affair</a> and Abang is quite adept at it by now but still, his room was a mess as it was used for male cousins to <i>lepak,</i> change and pray. He had tried to gather all his things but still...And his flight back to Penang was very early the next morning. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, Mama became very stressful and snapped at Adik at every single mistake she made...<i>kesian </i>adik. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The vet was closed and so were the courier companies as it was the birthday of our beloved Sultan. Many calls were made and to cut the long story short, a back-door transaction<span style="font-size: x-small;">(shhhh!)</span> was finally made with a courier agent. A visit to the famous pet shop of Kubang Kerian and a chat with the ever friendly and knowledgeable owner saw Mama heaving a relief sigh . He calmly assured Mama that it is an entirely normal aging process.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just before noon, I was left with the neighbour who is as crazy about me as my own family with loads of premium wet food together with a what-to-do/ watch-out list. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">They barely had time to catch the flight...and off the went to <b>KUCHING</b>, of all the places!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am very satisfied to know that they didnt really enjoy their time there as there were too many reminders of me...heheheh. Mama even updated her fb status with: <span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">In </span><b style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Kuching </b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">and missing our </span><b style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">kucing</b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">!!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoaypDuHSpc08qMfNq2iMj9CS6fyyKRbLAiTp8K-XehX4RdGxNOmu2AjZekoR7r_hlCXgy67CO434lFq8yxg5d_LsV7dg3Vaf5XsrQdzAZZ6aFWcmKpZBulgtXhrVo_iFnzXbyhoNpII/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoaypDuHSpc08qMfNq2iMj9CS6fyyKRbLAiTp8K-XehX4RdGxNOmu2AjZekoR7r_hlCXgy67CO434lFq8yxg5d_LsV7dg3Vaf5XsrQdzAZZ6aFWcmKpZBulgtXhrVo_iFnzXbyhoNpII/s200/025.JPG" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">none of them is as cute as me tho...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ok folks,I need my beauty sleep now...so long!!</span><br />
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</span></div></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Dr. M. Grey</span><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><ul></ul><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div></div>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6084248194710089329.post-85439095108497596732011-10-29T10:56:00.002+08:002011-10-29T10:57:49.319+08:00COME HOME NOW!!!<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Friday Evening</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm writing this sitting in the car waiting for Abah praying the <i>Maghrib </i>prayer at Masjid Muhammadi. Its so serene here, the sight, the sound. We arrived 5 minutes before the <i>azan</i> was called out, and within that few minutes, cars lined up and filled both sides of the road shoulders. Family with children, youngsters, old men and women and all sort of people thronged the majestic building. Really evoke the grateful feeling of being a Kelantanese and actually living here in me. Not 15 minutes ago I was horrified at the crowd at KB Mall. Truth is, we very rarely go to the mall on weekends. So, what is normal to others was frowned upon by us. When we were coming out, there was still a long queue of cars waiting to get in and I was horrified that people were still coming in to the mall when <i>Maghrib </i>is so near. Well, there is a small <i>surau</i> in the mall anyway...</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I came to realise that it has been a long while since Abah and me got to spend time alone together. In fact, I think this is the very first time both of you, Abang and Adik, are not with us at night time....Adik went off to join her school program, camping on some beaches, around 3 this afternoon. Soon after, Abah and me decided to go out as Abah needed to find something for his never-ending DIY home and garden projects . And I wanted to find a gadget to transplant the seedlings that I saw on this new-found information -laden<a href="http://www.tanamsendiri.com/search/label/alatan"> gardening blog</a>. Sadly though, I couldnt find it...must try other garden stores soon. I have had enough frustrating moments trying to transplant without injuring the seedlings...</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So, there we were. Walking hand in hand, looking at things and ended up buying a micro fiber carpet for our bedroom. We were sold on the fact that they are super absorbent,stain resistant, do not shed, bla,bla,bla...the salesman claimed that it was made in Belgium but I doubted it. <span style="font-size: small;">(Upon checking it on the net just now, true enough, I found that they actually came from Taiwan!!)</span> Then, we got the tools Abah was looking for. Soon after,we passed the lingerie section and I was attracted to sports bra on sales. After a few minutes looking and discussing them with Abah, it suddenly hit me that Abah might be embarrassed to be there and and apologised to him. Abah was surprised and said no, he's not embarrassed at all, automatically reminding me of how around ten years ago, it was a normal thing for us to do, browsing all departments together as I could never shop or even walk alone. But Adik, since you arrived and especially after you reached certain age, I think 9 was it, you have become my best shopping companion and I thoroughly enjoy your company that I have forgotten I used to do it with Abah!! You are always my best critic, honest as you are...<span style="font-size: small;">(though sometimes I wish you are more subtle, like Abang....)</span> </span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">When you turn 11 and and we shared the same shoe sizes, you become more enthusiastic. Thank God, by this year your feet has grown even more and my shoes are safe!! Recently though, whenever both of us are wearing black <i>abaya</i> and walking/standing side by side, people have been commenting that we are of the same size. Something like,<i>" Eh, dah sama besar Mama ngan Adik".</i>..Adik beams whenever anyone says this as it means she's taller, which is true....and errm, Mama beams too as she thinks<span style="font-size: x-small;"> (read: <i>perasan</i>)</span> she looks smaller now, which she hopes is true!! And yes, we wear the same S size <i>abayas</i>.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, Abah's here. He's finished the prayer....</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now we are having dinner at Hayaki Kopitiam at Jalan Kebun Sultan as I've been reading good reviews by some bloggers here. Our verdict,the food's not bad at all.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And now we stopped again for <i>Isya'</i> and here I am again waiting in the car as I am on 'leave'.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saturday Morning.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We just came back from <i>tosai </i>breakfast..</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I thanked Abah upon realising that we were out till late last night so as to avoid from me having to be at home alone if Abah was to go to mosque from <i>Maghrib</i> to <i>Isya' </i>as usual...how thoughtful of him.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have ran out of things to write.</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Adik, please come home soon!!!!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, hooray!!! the day after tomorrow, Abang will be home too for <b><i>Eid al-Adha</i></b>, <i>InsyaAllah</i>...He'll be home for one week and all of us must brace ourselves for another surge in weight-gaining haha!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>Elhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16245569818137153817noreply@blogger.com2