Kampong fun

Tired and worn out

Went to Taiping, Kuala Kangsar and Ipoh. Found the traffic heavy all the way. Driving was really a tiring affair. There were traffic jam everywhere, even in a small town like Batu Kurau. By the time I reached back to my hotel, it was already 10.30pm. We were tired and worn out. Will think twice before making the same kind of journey next time.

Heavy traffic

In Kampar

There's only one big hotel in Kampar. Because of that it is always full especially during the festive season. Despite trying to make the booking one month ago, I was not successful. Anyway I am now in Kampar, staying at another hotel. It's not too bad. Walking distance to Tesco. I am resting in the room right now, having driven all the way from KL. Waiting for Maghrib to break my fast.

Hope traffic is okay

Its the second day of Shawal. As I had planned, its the first day of my fasting. Hope I can last the day. Will be traveling to Malim Nawar later in the day. Will be there for two days. While there, will take the opportunity to go the Batu Kurau, Taiping and others in sha Allah. Hope the traffic will not be too bad.

Its Shawal

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, maaf Zahir dan Batin.

Last day of Ramadhan

Its the last day of Ramadhan. Thirty days have gone. Day in day out, week in week out, suddenly its the end of the month already. Tomorrow it will be Shawal. This time I plan to do the six days fasting as soon as possible. That means on the second day of Shawal I will start in sha Allah. Last year there were too many distraction. The Langkawi trip, my daughter's wedding, Perth etc etc. In the end, I didn't do it. 

Back in the office

Hi…. its Saturday. I'm back in the office just one day into my nine days leave. As I said, was hoping that this time, I can have my holiday in peace but then and urgent matter cropped up. So no choice but to attend to it. Hopefully everything will work out okay.

Full nine days

Today is the start of a long break from work for me. Nine days in total but all I needed to do was take three days leave only. The rests are taken care of by weekends and public holidays. I think this is the longest break I will be having from work ever since I started work again. Last year I took leave but was interrupted every time. Had to come back to the office due to work demand. There was one time I just landed at KLIA from Perth at about 12.30pm, switch on my telephone and there was a message. There's a meeting at 5 today at the office. This time I hope I can have the full nine days in sha Allah.

There' always a crowd

I was at the mosque last night. Thought the crowd would be less as its almost the end of Ramadhan plus many must have already gone back to their hometown but I was wrong. The mosque was still crowded. I guess this is KL. Wherever you go, whenever you go, there's always plenty of people. At the curve a few nights ago, I was surprised at the large crowd. Thought most people would be at the mosque for the Tarawih prayer. But if you go to the mosque, its crowded as well. On the road, there's plenty of cars. Everywhere..... there's always a crowd.

Tired but happy

This morning traffic was visibly less on the road. Some people may have gone home to their hometown to celebrate the Raya. Later today, I'm there 'll be more people going home after office hours as the weekend looms. This is the last Friday before Raya.

Last night had Iftar with my children. I had a great time Alhamdulillah. As I have said before, no matter what, the bond can never be broken, or at least not from my side anyway in sha Allah. Last night also was the third straight night I went home late. For the first time, I felt tired riding my bike. Never felt it before. It was always an enjoyable experience riding but last night, there was a bit of weariness in me. Perhaps after three straight nights, my body is giving me the signals. Rest! 

It has been continuous

Don't know what to say about Bakun but the problems have been continuous. One problem after another. Can't even rest in peace. There's always something cropping up to make the situation critical and keep you on your toes. Just when you thought everything is under control, something else happened. I must say it has been making my brain to work overtime. In a way its good for me as it keeps me active and alert but on the other hand, its not good for Bakun.  

Well again

Both of them are well again Alhamdulilah. They are also ready for Raya.

The ultimate aim

Visited my elder brother in hospital last night. He has been there for more than three weeks already. Something to do with the lung. Later it was the hospital bugs. I was there last Sunday as well. On Monday I visited my former brother in law at another hospital. He is also in bad shape. I guess as age starts to creep up, one has got to prepare for the eventualities. Its inevitable. Nobody lives forever. Except in heaven off course. That's why we must all try our very best to get there. This world is only temporary. So don't worry if life sometimes gives you a little knock here and there. Its the heaven that must be the ultimate aim. 

In sha Allah

Came back late from work tonight. Fulfilling an Iftar invitation. By the time I reached home, it was already ten past ten. After having my bath and doing the prayers, I rest the body and mind by watching TV. A family drama was showing on one of the channel. A family with problems, what else. Off course, as so often in the movies, they all came good in the end. It reminded me of my own situation. Only the ending is still to be known. 

This is the fourth Ramadhan I am spending without my four children and it is also going to be the fourth Raya I will be without them. Its a sad sad situation but not much I can do.......sigh.....It is out of my hand. I tried a few times to get them to join me for Iftar for just one day at least but they declined everytime. Busy I guess. Even on Hari Raya, they are still busy cause I never see their faces even though I am just half an hour's drive away. There are many other more important places to go perhaps. Sad to say, I am not expecting any different this coming Raya.

Despite that, I try not to take it too hard. I brush aside the deep feeling of pain that I feel inside of me. I try not to disappoint them whenever they need me. They are my children, will always be my children. Like all parents, I only want the best for them, even if the feeling is not mutual. I brought them up the best I can. Gave my all from the moment they were born, each of them. Perhaps I have failed them once but one swallow does not make a summer. I do my best, then, now and forever in sha Allah.

Anyway, life goes on. I am resign to the situation but Allah is great. Never lose faith in the grace of Allah the Quran says. Maybe one day, my ending would be the same as the drama I have just seen. In sha Allah! 

Ramadhan Karim

Its only 6 pm but it is so quiet in the office. Most of the staff has gone back to break their fast at home. I am still in the office as I have a breaking of fast date at KGPA with a client. Its goes with the work. Something unavoidable at times. I have on a few occasions already this Ramadhan turned down a few invitations. That means today I will be back home only at about 10 pm. Its okay once in a while but not too often.  

Raya is coming

People are in the Raya mood, especially us Muslim. Most are already thinking about 'balik kampung'. At the mosque, the crowd is still there. I would think maybe on Thursday or Friday, the exodus will begin. By Saturday, it will be full blown. The highways will be choked. The rest stops along the highways will be filled to the brim. Kuala Lumpur will be empty for a while but not so much. There will be people like me, who remains in the city. …...

You will get through

I couldn't believe what I was reading when I first read the news about MH 17 on my phone. Its was a message on my 'What's up' application send by friend. I had to triple read before I manage to get it in my head. A MAS plane missing! Again! Thought it was a joke until I realized it was not. Quickly I switched on the television to see the news…..sure enough. There it was on CNN, already discussing about the possibilities of what might have happened. A terrible, terrible thing to happen. To say I'm sad is an understatement. I'm loss for word actually. Wishing all those affected to be strong. You will get through.

Shopping Raya

Tired from shopping Raya.

One second madness

Sometimes people lose track of themselves when they are angry. That's what happened to the girl in the video. She went totally berserk, acting like a crazy drunkard who has just lost a pint. Don't know if she is like that in everyday life. If she is, she better find a way to control it. There have been cases when people got angry over a small tiff ended up in jail. Why? They killed the other person, the object of their anger. Just one second of madness can cause you a life of sorrow.

Another tragedy

Last night I was shocked with the news about another MAS aircraft tragedy. This plane was shot while flying over Ukraine, where there's some bloody fighting going on right now. No use asking why it was flying over there now. Things have happened. 295 people are dead, including 43 Malaysians. I can only say my condolence to the affected families. May they remain strong. 

Sick

Maisarah is sick today. Must have got it from Akid, who was sick the past two days. Last night, she was having difficulty sleeping. Hope she gets okay soon in sha Allah. She is a strong girl with only her mother's milk for her diet the past six months. Only now we are teaching her to eat other things. 

World cup syndrome

The World cup is over. I don't have withdrawal syndrome this time because I wasn't following it that much. The timing was not suitable. Late at night or very early in the morning. Then the fasting month came midway through the World cup. I don't remember watching a full match, not even the final. Anyway, Germany as always, strong, technical, discipline. They won. Congratulations. Brazil, they play with abandon, open, full of skill and flair but these days, its difficult to win playing that way. Football has become so technical, its getting to be boring sometime.

My mother

Took the opportunity over the holiday period to visit my mother's grave. Been a long time since I was last there. Somehow the last few days she was very much in my mind. That's why I decided to visit her. She is a wonderful woman, very strong at heart, always caring, very understanding. I can talk to her about almost anything and she would listen. I miss her. Been almost fifteen years since she left us. She will forever be my mother, the woman who brought me up, taught me about life, gave me all the love and care until I become what I am today. 

Keep healthy

Working the second time around open up my eyes to many things. First and foremost, I now feel that 55 is a bit too young to retire. At that age, the brain is still functioning well, the body is still willing unless off course if you are not healthy. At 55, you are at your peak, in the prime of your life. There's a lot of knowledge in you, still many things you can contribute. So, why retire. Since working again, I have met many people who are in their early or late 60's, still working actively. There are some who are in their 70's even. I am enjoying my work this time around. Its a second wind for me. Keeps my brain active. And when the brain is active, the body is healthy.

That's life

A few days ago, I turned 58. If my plan had come true, I should now be a happily retired man, enjoying the fruits of my labour from the last thirty or so years. Alas, it didn't worked out the way I planned it to be. I can only plan but Allah decides. I am now still working, even harder than before. I am carving out a living while planning for the future of my kids. Its still 9 to 5 for me, only it is more now, 8 to 7 or even longer. Its a life I never anticipated, especially this advance age. How do I feel about it? It does not matter I guess. What matters is life goes on. And I will continue to strive as best as I can, lilla hi Taala.

Time to Unwind

Its a Saturday. Been spending the time sleeping away. Catch up on the loss sleep over the weekdays. What more when its the fasting month. Sleep is real good. Unwind the body and the mind. Charge up to be ready again for the coming week. Alhamdulillah next week I will only be working three days cause I have taken leave Monday while Tuesday is a public holiday. Great to be spending the time at home, resting.   

Argentina to win?

Its Argentina vs Germany. Who is going to win. Looks like Argentina if you believe in history. No country has won a World cup outside of their continent except for Brazil who won in Japan/Korea. Otherwise if it is played in Europe, a European team will win. Similarly, if it is played in the Americas, an American country will win. So, this World cup is played in Brazil. Figure it out yourself who will win! Off course, these are just facts and figures. The real game will be played on the pitch. Looking at the teams so far, Germany might just have the edge.

My prediction

Its going to be Holland in the final to play Germany. That's my prediction!

Blitzkrieg

What can I say? The Germans were too fast. The goals came one after another, like lightning. It was five before the Brazilians realize what had hit them. By then it was too late. The damage has been done. All they can do is to try limit it. Must have been a bad day in the office for the Brazilians. Who would have thought that they could be hit for seven? No one I'm sure. After all, Brazil have always been about the beautiful game. They play it with a flair that only they can, beautiful, open football a delight for anyone to watch. On the other hand, the Germans have always been dour, dull and very technical. But on this day, it was blitzkrieg.

I need that

Its 5.40 pm. The office is quiet like never before. Its the fasting month. Everybody goes home early. BY 6pm, its almost empty except for a few stragglers like me. I'm still stuck. There's a big decision to be made. To make the decision, we need facts and figures. I'm waiting for that. That's why I cannot go home as yet. That's how it has been the past few days. Everyday there are new things to do, new decision to make, new things to learn. Its tiring on the body but its keeping the mind alert. At my age, I need that.

That's a big relief.

So soon its the tenth day. Alhamdulillah, so far everything's okay. I missed one night of sahur but got through the day without much problem. I was worried particularly because of my ulcer problem but in sha Allah, I don't think there will be any long term effect. I managed to go to the mosque during weekends while for the morning prayer, I try to go everyday. We have also managed to change back the sleeping time of Akid and Maisarah. Instead of between 1am and 2am, its now before 12 midnight. That's a big relief, I must say!

Getting older

World cup stories

After Brazil scored the second goal, they started playing like schoolboys. Kicking the ball away aimlessly into the opponent half at every opportunity, they played like they have no strategy, just kick the ball away. Surely they know better that if you give the ball to the opponents, the ball will come back into your half, over and over again. I said to myself, if they continue playing like this, Colombia is going to score soon. Sure enough they did but luckily for Brazil, only one.

When they made the substitution just before the end of the extra time, my thought was that the goalkeeper would not have sufficiently warmed up. Can he then straight away be involve in such a tension packed atmosphere, defending his post. Luckily, he did and Holland won.

We have not seen any outstanding team so far. Brazil have been stuttering along, so is Argentina. Holland and Germany are also through but only just. So who will win the world cup?

Breaking of fast

Work at the office has continued to be coming non stop. Been busy such that I have been coming home late, almost breaking of fast at the house. There's been a few invitations for breaking of fast from business associates but I have decline all of them so far. Maybe I will just go my own company breaking fast events, in KL and Bakun. That I have no choice. For the others, I will play by the ear. 

Mussing

The World cup has reached the second stage. No surprises here but at Wimbledon, there's been plenty. Its been one surprise after another. Nadal, Murray, Williams etc etc. They all have been knocked out. At the World, I would expect Brazil to move on, although not convincingly.

At the office, I have been busy as usual, Been going home late even though its the fasting month. Then at home I have the babies to look after. Don't how it happened but both of them have been sleeping late recently. Its taking a toll on me.

Live with it

Miss the 'sahur' this morning. Don't know if the alarm sounded or not but I had it on at 4.30 am. Eithe fit didn't sound or I didn't hear it. With the two babies sleeping at well past one in the morning, could that have been a contributing factor. They sleep very very late every night. 12 midnight is considered good if they are asleep by then. Normally its after one. Its tough but that's the way it is. Until they grow up, I just have to live with it.