He died a Muslim

At the mosque this morning, after the morning prayer, there was a 'morning sermon' by an Ustaz. Today being Saturday, most mosques would take the opportunity to have some program after the morning prayer. The program would usually go on till about 7.30am after which breakfast is served. This mosque that I go to is no different. The Ustaz this morning was talking, among other things, about  Abu Thalib, the uncle of Muhammad SAW, how he died a non believer although throughout his life, he loved and was the main defender and protector of the prophet against the Quraish. However, another view on this says that Abu Thalib died a believer. I have done some readings on this subject before. From all these readings, I tend to agree with the second view. I believe he died a Muslim. 

Its sickening

As usual, the powers that be are so quick to go after the opposition but drag their feet when it comes to BN. Just say one word perceived to be wrong, they will come after you like a hurricane. They raid your office, take away your computers and hand phones and treat you like a common criminal. But for the other side, even a thousand police reports will not move them. Even if they do, you are given the best treatment, with total respect. Its sickening!

The initiative is gone

It seems the PM is looking for the perfect time to have the general election. I feel the best time was within the first six months of him becoming the PM. That is when the feel good factor is still there, like a new broom that sweeps clean. Its normal. Its like a piece of white cloth that has not been stained. People are more welcoming, more willing to accept. Anything longer than that, that aura is gone. Now, its too late. The initiative is gone. He will lose the election.   

Attack at will

As usual, England was knocked out of another major tournament by penalty kicks. I read somewhere that this is the sixth time they are knocked out by penalty kicks. What a pity! On the other hand, England didn't play all that well anyway. They were negative to the extreme. Perhaps they thought that by holding back and depending on counter attacks, they can win the game! What boring tactics! That's why people love the Brazilian team. They play a fast, open, attacking game. No crowding of the midfield, no defensive tactics, no depending on counter attacks. Its attack at every opportunity. 

Damn tired

Woke up this morning feeling very tired although last night I went to bed early. Watch the Nadal match at Wimbledon but only the first set. As Akid was already fast asleep by then, thought I'd better take the opportunity to go to bed as well. Nowadays, opportunities like this don't come often enough. Yesterday, I went for a haircut. Not that I have much hair left but nevertheless, every month they need to be trimmed. The barber was Indian. They might be a minority but there are a few businesses that they are in the majority. Car wash, newspaper vendors, paper and magazine stalls, restaurants, scrap metal and the barber business.  

At my work station

Another view

Ramadan is coming

In less than a month, the special month of Ramadan will be here. Ramadan last year, I went through the high as well as the low in living the life. I experienced Ramadan in the holy land for the first time ever. Breaking of fast and performing the Tarawih prayer at the Grand Mosque is an experienced I can never forget. That was a real high. At the same time, I was also going through an upheaval in my life. I felt like a stranger in the place I call home. I had to break my fast at mosques while I take my 'suhur' sitting on the floor alone, with food that was bought the previous night.  That was a real low. Anyway, that's life. I'm richer for it Insha Allah. I look forward to the coming Ramadan, to do my best in the eyes of Allah.

Worse than killing

Why are people still reading this newspaper? Its full of shit. It has been sued and found guilty twice recently for spreading lies. Yet, people are still reading it, and believe what its saying as well. How people can be so blind and stupid I don't understand. Its a real mystery. The newspapers itself, how come it can do such things? Don't they know that in Islam, spreading lies is worse than killing. Yet, they continue to produce such things. Aren't they afraid of God?

A simple formula

Akid sleeps late at night. The late can be at midnight or even at 1 or 2 am. Although as a baby, its natural for him to sleep most of the time, he will sleep for short periods only before that. As a result, we couldn't sleep as well, having to look after him. In the morning we are tired out. I have missed the morning prayer at the mosque a few times because of this.

Alhamdulillah, we have found a simple formula to make him sleep early at night. Wake him up early in the morning, that's all. Now I wake him up, latest by 8am. Because of that, by 10.30 to 11pm. he will be sleepy already.

I can choose my time

I prefer going to the malls or anywhere else for that matter on weekdays. Then there will be less people, I can do what I want to do without so much of a hassle. First of all, finding a parking space will be a breeze. The toilets will be available at any time, the queue at the paying counters will be short, the restaurants will have plenty of empty tables and the surau will be less crowded. It is a lot more pleasant than on a weekend, what more if it is during the school holidays. That's the privilege I get as a retiree. I can choose my time.

Its Friday again

So fast a week is gone already. I thought it was still early in the week until I went for the morning prayer today. The 'imam' was reciting the chapter 'Sajadah', a sure sign that it is Friday. Wow! When you are not working, you tend to lose track of the time and the days. Now, what did I do the whole week? Monday, I was at home the whole day. Tuesday, KL. Wednesday, home. Thursday, home. Yeah...I was at home most of the time the whole week except for short trips to the mosque and the nearby shops. 

I shudder

Its difficult to believe the police was instructed to act with maximum restraint during Bersih 3. The way they go after the people, chasing them till the street corners to the narrow lanes and alleys, firing almost a thousand gas canisters, spraying chemical laced water, catching and beating them up, it was more like maximum action. They went absolutely mad that day. Till today, I shudder at the thought of seeing a participant being beaten up right in front of my eyes. Senseless bashing..........

Something is missing

Last night I felt a bit loss because there was no football on TV. After many nights of football, to be without one felt a bit strange. Like something is missing but I do not know what. Too fast, the preliminaries are over. I like the World Cup better because its longer. Further more, teams from all over the world are competing. It adds variety to the show. I am disappointed in Spain. They don't seem to play like they did during the World Cup. Their game of possession with short intricate passing of the ball is missing. Of the other teams, I think Germany, as always, will be strong contenders. 

A small majority

It seems to me the Arab Spring in Egypt is only just beginning. Toppling the President is easy but moving on from there is a lot harder than most people would think. The army is proving to be a tough nut to crack. They won't give up power so easily as that would mean losing their hold on a lot of other things as well, including a kind of life that only those in power can have. I think it will need another spring before true democracy can prevail. Back home, GE 13 is nearing. The opposition will have to go against tremendous odds in order to win it but I'm sure they will win, by a small majority.

A test

Both my hands are feeling it at the elbows while my body is aching at the back. My mind is continuously feeling stress and edgy, perhaps from the lack of sleep. Looking after a baby at so late an age is a tremendous challenge to say the least. Its a test of one's patience, strength of mind and resolve. Come to think of it, I got through the first time around. Four times in fact. I'm sure I will get through this time as well.

I'm tired I want to sleep

Who knows?

Who will win Euro? Germany? They have been strong, winning all their three matches but I think it will be Germany this time. I like Spain but they have not been playing their normal game the way I see it. Their short passing game is missing, unlike during the World Cup when they showcased it for all the world to see. Or could it be France? Who knows? 

Was it because of the haze?

Its always a struggle to go for a jog. The slightest of excuse will cause me to be in two minds, to go or not to go. Yesterday for example, the US Open was showing live on TV. That was reason enough not to go for a jog. Add to it the haze that was making its annual return, the urge not to go was very very strong. Somehow I managed to get myself out of my seat in front of the TV, get dressed and off I went for a jog. Came back, I felt tired like never before. My body aches all over. Was it because of the haze?

We all love babies

Nowadays, every time we go out, caring for the baby takes up most of the time. For example, we might reached a place by a certain time but will not be able to do what we wanted to do till the needs of the baby is taken care of e.g changing his pampers or giving him his milk etc etc. It does not take much time actually but its more like a test of your patience. You want to get on with things but had to wait because of all that. Eating is another hurdle to overcome when a baby is in tow. Besides that, the baby always wants to be carried despite you having brought along his pram....sigh. However, despite all these hurdles, people can't do without babies. They are so pure and innocent. We all love babies. 

That's the way it is

Yesterday I was up early in the morning, went for the morning prayer at the mosque before going for my usual jog. After the jog, had breakfast and a bath before going to PJ to meet a friend. Came back in the afternoon, had a short rest before going out again, this time to Damansara for some window shopping. Was there till about seven before going to Gombak for a do. This went on till about 10.30pm. We reached back to the house by about 11.30pm. I felt so tired I could have slept right away but with the baby around, I didn't get to sleep till about 2.30 am in the morning. That's the way it is!

Akid

One month and a bit

A challenge

Last night I slept well. The baby went to sleep at about 12.30 am unlike previous days when he would be awake till almost 3am. He slept soundly and didn't wake up till about 5am in the morning. As a result, I too was able to sleep well. I could even go for the morning prayer at the mosque after missing it the past two days. The strain of looking after a baby is taking its toll on me. I am enjoying it but it is also very tiring. It changes my daily pattern of life. At an age when all these are supposed to be history, it certainly is a challenge.

Crazy

What were they trying to do? What were they thinking? I am shocked! Firing almost a thousand tear gas shells onto innocent people during Bersih 3. Its crazy! No wonder I saw tear gas cans all over the place on that day. They must be thinking they are fighting criminals or what? Or communist as one former IGP suggested. Yet the Minister said he is proud of the professionalism shown by the police on that day.....I rest my case.

Parents

Bringing up children is no child's business. From the moment they are in the mother's stomach till they are born and from then on, it requires full care and attention. Both the parents have to make plenty of sacrifices in caring for their children. It is because of the love and tender care of the parents that the children grow to become adults. The parent's love for their children will never cease, except in very very rare cases. God knows this. That's why in the Quran, you will never find God asking the parents to love the children. Instead, its the other way round. God ask the children to love their parents, to care for them, to speak well of them, to not hurt them by saying Ahh..... How I wish my parents are still alive. Then I can give them all the love I have, the same way they have given me.

Seven times champion

The Nadal vs Djokovic final probably didn't hit the heights worthy of a major final but still the atmosphere was tense. The fact that both players were playing for some kind of a history made it special. In the end Nadal's clay court mastery proves too much for Djokovic. He was always in control except for the third set when Djokovic bravely fought back. In the end, Nadal won in four sets, becoming the only man in the world to have won seven French Open title.

Lack of time

Finding the time to write my piece everyday is very difficult now. Yesterday for example, Akid was up so early in the morning I couldn't do anything else but attend to him. Lately he has been sleeping in spurts of only a few minutes each. That makes it even more difficult for me to find the time to write. Lucky thing this morning, he is still sound asleep, together with his mother. I am thus alone. Great! can steal some time to write my crap. 

Last night, he didn't really sleep until almost two in the morning. Even then, I had to rock him every now and then. By three, I was tired out. The mother had to take over from there. I slept till 5.15am when the alarm sounded. Got up, when to the mosque, came back and Akid is still sleeping.

Who cares anyway?

The PTPTN fiasco would not have happened in the first place if only the responsible person had some maturity in him. How can he mess around with the future of thousands of students, just so that he can get his little revenge. What for? For what? To show BN is all powerful? Even at the expense of the innocent students? It really is beyond belief! Where has he put the 'rakyat first' slogan? Or he couldn't care less? Who cares anyway? The students can go fly kite! To claim victory later on only adds on to that feeling. 

Health is wealth

These days I do my jogging in the morning. I find it very convenient because this is the time when I'm free most of the time. Before I get caught up with other activities later in the day, I might as well seize the opportunity to jog first. When I was working, evening was the best time especially after a hard days work in the office. Jogging brings back the freshness in the body. Sometimes I do get a bit lazy. When that happens, I have to drag myself to the jogging track but most of the time, the desire to be healthy is enough to spur me on. Insha Allah I will carry on for as long as I can cause health is wealth.

Non stop sporting action

This season, the sporting calender seems not to end. The excitement of the premier league has barely subsided but more football is coming soon in the name of the European Championship. In between, we had some golf and the French Open which is still going on. Then we will have the US Open (golf) to be followed by Wimbledon. Meantime, the Olympics is getting closer and closer. For sports fan, its a continuous diet of sporting events to savour. I am particularly looking forward to watch the All Blacks in action once again. After the Rugby World cup where they emerge champion, the All Blacks have not played any game. There's one coming up soon against Ireland. I hope they show it live on TV.

There is no escape

Going in and out of Cheras during peak hours is terrible. In the morning its because people are going to work while evening, people are coming back from work. You cannot escape it. As far as I am aware, all the roads to Cheras are heavy with traffic during those hours. A journey that normally takes half an hour can become almost two hours during these times. No highway can help you unlike Sg Buloh where the Guthrie Corridor is a great escape route. Similarly for Gombak, its the Duke Highway. For Cheras, there is no escape!  

Not bad!

There were many things I wanted to do when I retire. Rest and recreation was number one but traveling to see the world was also high on the list. I wanted to go to places, experience other countries, enjoy the summer and the winter, the jungles and the cities, the beaches and the mountains or just relaxing by the roadside drinking coffee in Paris or Havana but alas! with the life I'm living now, its virtually impossible. I'm starting all over again! Nevertheless, I did go to Mekah and I also went to Padang, Indonesia, something I had wanted to do for a long long time. Not bad!

School holiday woes

When its the school holidays, its best to avoid the shopping malls especially on a weekend. The malls will be utterly crowded its unbearable. Even to use the toilet becomes difficult because of too many people. At some malls, its a night mare finding a parking space. Not only shopping malls but the highways are also jam packed with vehicles. Everyday I'm hearing of people caught in massive traffic jam along the highway. Traveling to Ipoh that normally takes two and half hours can be as long as six to seven hours depending on the traffic. Wow! given the facts, I'd rather stay at home and watch TV!

Real tough

Its been real tough the past one month or so. The arrival of Akid has caused my days to change in more ways than one. If before I can do very much what I want anytime, these days he has a big say in what I do. He is just a baby but his wants and needs commands a lot of attention. Especially when it comes to sleep, I am losing a lot of it lately. Nighttime, it drag on till one or two in the morning, having to take care of him, so much so that I sometime missed the morning prayer at the mosque. Come to think of it, I went through all these twenty years ago and thoroughly enjoyed the experienced. I will enjoy the experience this time. I will make sure of that.  

One sided

Aren't we surprised? A former minister has been cleared of any wrong doing while at the same time, a fifteen years old case involving an opposition leader is reopened? Certainly not me! This is how it has been all this while. They will go to great length to investigate a case if it involves one side while at the same time, they will drag their feet if it involves the other. True or not but this is the perception I have. The recent cases involving the former minister and the opposition leader only serves to strengthen it.

Its a no brainer

We don't need a former IGP to tell us that beating people in custody is wrong. Everybody knew it already except maybe the police who did it. How pathetic! Can we even believe him on his other stories especially when he has been cited by a judge as not being a credible witness in a court case involving his subordinate. I don't. 

I salute the Himpunan Hijau held in Kedah recently. We don't need the K pop thing to draw thousands of young people to attend. There were no untoward incident as well. As proven many times, if there are no provocations, there will be no trouble. But when tear gas and chemical water are being fired onto the people indiscriminately, surely there will be a reaction! Its a no brainer!

Its tough

Even the best players in the world can suffer a dramatic loss of form. It can happen anytime and in any sport. Fabregas started with a bang in the Spanish La Liga but ended with a whimper. He suffered a loss in form somewhere along the way, losing his starting place in the team even. Rory Mcllroy is going through a loss of form at the moment. Missing three cuts in a row is unlike him but that's what happened. Perhaps managing a long distance love interest is taking a toll on him. The same is happening to Wozniacki, his tennis playing girlfriend. She's also struggling, losing her no.1 position recently and starting to lose matches in the early rounds.

A funny story

A funny thing happened this morning. My morning alarm sounded as usual at 5.15am. I shut it off, thought I'd wait a few minutes before getting up. The next time my eyes opened, took a quick glanced at the clock. It showed 5.30am. At least I thought so. I got up and within a few minutes was already by the car ready to go to the mosque. Along the way, I noticed that the sky was not as dark as usual. I also noticed that traffic was more than usual. There was also a man jogging. Thought to myself, this man must be crazy jogging so early in the morning. Haven't he heard about about what happened to a jogger in Subang Jaya?

Actually the three things that I saw while on the way to the mosque were signs that something was not as I thought but I didn't take heed. As I neared the mosque, I happened to look at the clock in the car. It showed 6.45am! What? I couldn't believe my eyes! How can that be? But sure enough for when I got to the mosque, they had already finished their prayer. It was actually already 6.45am! Sigh....