Life is but a dream ……

Salmaan (RA) reports, "On the last day of Syaaban, Rasulullah (SAW) addressed us and said, ‘O people there comes over you now a great month, a most blessed month in which lies a night more greater in virtue than a thousand months.

It is a month in which Allah has made Fasting compulsory by day. And has made sunnah the Tarawikh by night. Whosoever intends drawing near to Allah by performing any virtuous deed, for such person shall be the reward like the one who had performed a fardhu in any other time. And whoever performs a fardhu, shall be blessed with the reward of seventy sunat in any other time.

This is indeed the month of patience, and the reward for true patience is Jannah (paradise).

It is the month of sympathy with one’s fellowmen. It is the month wherein a true believer’s rezeki is increased. Whosoever feeds another who fasted, in order to break the fast at sunset, for the feeder there shall be forgiveness of sins and emancipation from the fire of Jahannam (hell), and for such feeder shall be the same reward as the one who Fasted (who he fed) without that persons reward being decreased in the least."

I was invited to a majlis aqiqah for the new born baby girl of a friend of mine in Country Heights yesterday. It was such a jubilation for him and his wife as this God gift angel is their fourth child, after three boys.

I brought along Jay and Ayra and picked Ahwaz from his Saturday school. The aqiqah (food by Kayu Nasi Kandar) was for his close family and I got myself invited via our Yahoo Group and off course, after calling my friend for the direction to his house.

Calling his house a house would be an understatement. Well even if I call it a bungalow, still wouldn’t do the justice. His is a three storied mansion with more than a dozen rooms built on a piece land measured more that 13,000 sqft. Worth more than 3 cool million. There are a couple of Mercs at the courtyard as well. Not to mention about his other good neighbours’ abodes.

One thing I hate whenever meeting this friend of mine is that he always had his funny look at me. As if saying, ‘what is wrong with you bro?’.

I wanted to stare back at him and would like to quickly response, what is this ‘what is wrong with me’ look. Other than that, I don’t mind him treating me with expensive cigars which price can buy you lunch for two at the most expensive restaurant buffet.

We had a long way between us. We were at the same university in Glasgow, same faculty, same class and heck even the same sponsor.

Maybe, there’s nothing wrong with me. I’m happy with my lovely Jay and my wonderful kids, my middle-management job, my small terrace house, my not complicated life.

But maybe, everything is wrong with me. My friend also has a lovely and nice wife (when she almost can afford anything, unlike some yang tak sedarkan diri), four lovely kids, a few companies to run, a big mansion as well as not a complicated life.

This could be how I celebrate the Merdeka Day today. How can I free myself from the complacency and use the fullest all God gifts that He bestowed upon me.

Selamat Hari Merdeka !

Remember this one ? At first, some 20 years ago, I didn’t understand. It is clear and present danger now. Malaysia is under fire. By the most wretched.

Anak Kecil Main Api
Terbakar Hatinya Yang Sepi
Airmata Darah Bercampur Keringat
Bumi Dipijak Milik Orang

Nenek Moyang Kaya Raya
Tergadai Seluruh Harta Benda
Akibat Sengketa Sesamalah Kita
Cinta Lenyap Di Arus Zaman

Indahnya Bumi Kita Ini
Warisan Berkurun Lamanya
Hasil Mengalir Ke Tangan Yang Lain
Pribumi Merintih Sendiri

Masa Depan Sungguh Kelam Kan Lenyap Peristiwa Semalam
Tertutuplah Hati Terkunci Mati
Maruah Peribadi Dah Hilang

Kini Kita Cuma Tinggal Kuasa
Yang Akan Menentukan Bangsa
Bersatulah Hati Bersama Berbakti
Pulih Kembali Harga Diri

Kita Sudah Tiada Masa

Majulah Dengan Gagah Perkasa
Jangan Lalai Teruskan Usaha

MelayuKan Gagah Di Nusantara

Most of us grew up with the tender love and care of our parents. In my case, growing up in the kampung I had some privileges. Some of my neighbours were fishermen.

Whenever they brought back some freshly caught fish or big prawns from their outing, they sell them to my dear mum. As my dear dad is allergic to anything meaty, I was practically grew up eating seafood, freshly cooked and served. I loved all my mum’s cooking. My favourite is the reddish colour masak lemak sotong. Which reminds me during the first week of marriage, when my sweet Jay (sweet 23 year old Jay …) served me lunch with fried ikan kembung cut into threes, I immediately called my mum.

Anyway, all my children loved their mum’s cooking. Each of them has their favourite.

Ahwaz (taking UPSR very2 soon) loves anything macaroni cheese. Ateef will go for nasi ayam. Waseem’s favorites are nasi lemak and chocolate cake. Umayrah will eat anything.

But all of them loved my roti butter bakar. Here’s how I do it:

Heat up the pan. Dab butter on Gardenia bread slices, unevenly, on both sides. Put them on to the pan. When the butter melts, take the bread out and cut into small triangles. Arrange nicely.

“So, who wants Daddy’s special roti butter bakar?”

All of them will rush for the toasted bread, so fast that almost half of the family size loaf was gone in minutes.

It’s shown every morning at 7.00 on the Disney Channel weekdays, and at 7.30 am weekends.

I love all the characters: Shaun the hero, Bitzer the sheepdog, Farmer the farmer, Shirley the bigger sheep, Timmy the baby sheep and not forgetting the naughty pigs.

He’s Shaun the sheep
He even mucks about with those who cannot bleat

Keep it in mind, He’s one of a kind
Life’s a treat with Shaun the Sheep

The last few months or so, saw my non activeness in the outdoor physical activities such as cricket, jogging or at the driving range. The indoor ones however, still …

That, plus work commitment which forced me to participate in endless business lunches and dinners. These somehow have an adverse effect on my body (my tummy specifically). I’m now beginning to look like a normal early 40s. Though people swear (not kidding here) that I look like at least anything minus six to eight solar years.

Last few days when I measured my weight on those nice electronic weighing machine at the massage chairs outlets at the mall, showed mine at 77 kg. That is 5 kg above my normal reading. To make it more unpleasant, Jay’s weighed about 20 kilos less, that’s over 6 kilos extra. But then, electronics, they are known for what we call glitches, and not to be trusted whole heartedly.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. I saw Jay already started her Syaaban fasting and no heavy meal at night. Even (this is her routine) drinks strictly only to air suam.

Yeap, I’ll soon follow her.

Cherating

I’m back to the South China Sea, but on the other side. I’m leading a team of 5 to meet up with customers in Kerteh who want to upgrade their plants with our latest offerings.

Going back home tomorrow.

Sutera Harbour, KK

I will be here until Saturday for a conference organized by my company for our customers (who pays hundred of millions yearly ..).

Beside taking care of these customers, I’ll be part of the two-team emcees.

Nice sunset.

In the past weeks I attended two weddings, one of my SIL and the other of my nephew’s. I rushed myself from the serenity of Pulai Springs and took the whole of my troop plus the bibik back to Kuala Kangsar. It’s good to see Jay’s younger sister (by ten years) was getting married. Jay somehow seemed pretty pleased with herself as there were some guests mistaken her for the pengantin.

Jay had to attend the kursus intervensi for her Masters program at Bagan Lalang for 2½ days. On Friday afternoon, I had to fetched her first and then get back to Sunway for Umayrah and Waseem (Ahwaz and Ateef decided to stay with the bibik).

My nephew’s wedding was in Sitiawan, my hometown. He’s one of the twins, the first cucu of my mum and dad. Most of our families were there. With my designer beard, some of my relatives seemed not to recognize me. Though, once confirmed, all the old stories started to unfold again.

It’s written on the wind, it’s everywhere I go.

One morning in between the weddings, I tried out exactly how Ateef and Ayra did it. Put a bowl of Koko Krunch and poured cold milk over it. Nice, it was nice.