Better year ahead

Its strangely very quiet in the office right now. For a start, less than a quarter of the staff were working today. A few took the afternoon off. Now, many more have left the office after their working hours. Only two or three more are still working, including me. Outside, I am anxiously looking at the sky. It is getting darker by the minute, meaning the rain is coming soon. I rode the motorcycle to work so if it rains, there will be some inconvenience for sure. Not that it really matters anyway. I am going home so it doesn't matter if I get wet. I will head for the shower on reaching home. 

Tomorrow a new year will dawn. I look forward to it as I always do. Make new resolutions, hoping to have a better year than this year just as this year was better than last year in sha Allah.

Looking back

Its the last day of 2015. A year has gone. That's the way it goes. Time waits for nobody. It goes on and on. Its up to us to play catch up. Looking back, I believe I had a reasonably good year, Alhamdulillah. Work wise, it has been as good as it can be. I can't complain. Personal wise, I had a few first in 2015. For the first time, I gave a sermon, for Hari Raya Haji. For the first time also, I gave a religious 'ceramah' at a surau. I also became the unofficial Imam at the local surau. It is something I am still trying to get use to. Made many mistakes while reciting the quran when leading the prayers such that it took a toll on my confidence.  Now, I am trying to get it back which is not an easy thing to do. Verses that I can normally recite with ease suddenly becomes difficult when reciting during prayers. It is something I have to overcome!  

Today's activity

I have paid my zakat but I am thinking of paying more. Most probably today I will find the time to go to the zakat office to pay. Later in the day after work, I have to go to Cheras to meet an estate agent. She has my cheque for the rental downpayment of my house in Cheras. I have found a tenant through her. Hopefully this tenant is a good one unlike previously when my house was in tatters after he left. Apparently, he is renting it for Mcdonald staffs. His company has a contract to rent and manage houses for Mcdonald staffs. They have been set a high standard so with that I hope my house will be well kept.

No nothing

I thought Monday and Tuesday was very quiet but as it turned out, today is worse. Everybody is on leave it seems. The road was also free flowing this morning. Tomorrow I think will be the same as today. Next week we will see the full force coming back but only on Tuesday. On Monday, parents will be going back to school. As for me, I have finished all my leave so I have to work, like it or not. Anyway, I had my fair share of leave the previous week so no complain. In a way, I like the quiet atmosphere. Gives me time to reflect on my work and to plan ahead. No rushing to meet deadlines, no meetings to attend, no nothing. Its good to experience it once in a while.  

Quiet in the office

My office is still half empty. Most are still enjoying their leave. As such, it is a bit quiet now. Not many meetings, paperwork or big decisions to make. People are still on holiday. Everything will be back to normal in the new year, which is next week. Meanwhile, enjoy the relax atmosphere while I can for when the busy times come again, I will be up to my neck with work. 

2015 is ending

2015 is coming to a close. Another year is going to be over. A new year is dawning. What have I achieved in 2015? Well, I am still working at my new company. Still traveling to Bakun, Kucing and Miri every now and then. Akid is learning to talk now, little by little while Maisarah is also picking up, learning from her brother. I gave my first ceramah at the local surau while still continuing my role as the imam. In 2016, I need to save more as my working life will not last forever! I will be sixty in seven months. That's why I have to start thinking about the life after sixty when I may not be working anymore. I also need to improve my ceramah. How to connect to the audience who are mostly retirees listening while having a siesta! 

Maisarah is two years old

Maisarah is two years old

 Friends from the surau enjoying the lunch

Maisarah cutting her cake with Akid

They come back, even more

The Quran says if you give away one, Allah will give you back seven hundred. It means simply, for every one ringgit you give in the path of Allah, you will get a return of seven hundred ringgit. It's in the Quran, Al Baqarah 261. The Quran is true cause its the word of Allah but how many of us are really, really convince that that is true. If we are convince, why are we afraid to give away to the needy for example? I have read a few times of people who said, I give away my money but it keeps coming back, even more! These people are not Muslim but they experienced what the Quran says. Now I feel I am experiencing it a bit. Not that I have given much but the little that I give away, they keep coming back, even more.

Given me so much

Maisarah is two years old already. Soon she will have a younger sister, in sha Allah. Not long to go. The date is late February. After that I have to stop production. Age is the main factor. My kids will still be in their teens when I'm already eighty years old. Anyway, I am grateful to Allah for all the things that have happened to me. I have six kids. Soon it will be seven. Four have grown up and living their own lives. I miss them terribly but I console myself every time by saying this is life. Its a normal process. Sooner or later, they will grow up, leave the house and live on their own. Only for me, it happened sooner. No matter what, I am grateful to Allah for He has given me so much.

I will be working

Been enjoying the holiday break spending the time at home. Might as well as the roads leading out of KL was full of vehicles. I actually wanted to go somewhere but the hotels were fully booked. I went jogging on Thursday morning at lake Titiwangsa. Otherwise, its was just relaxing in the house, go to the surau for the prayers, watch TV, surf the net, play with the kids, read the papers, read and memorise the quran. Its a good break. This week and next week, the office will mostly be empty. Most people are on leave till the new year. I will be working.

Where?

I came to work yesterday after a few days being on leave and saw an envelope on my table. On opening it, I was pleasantly surprised. I have been given a pay rise. Something totally unexpected. Out of the blue as they say. It made my day. Immediately I thought of taking the family for a weekend break  the coming Friday to Sunday but unfortunately, all the rooms had been taken up at the place that I wanted to go. Anyway, I am still thinking of going somewhere. Not too far cause I don't want to be caught up in a traffic jam due to the long weekend. Somewhere where the kids can have fun while I can have a break! Where?  

Those days

At Surrey University

Official dinner

In Kucing

Lunch with Ex Surrey mates

In Putra Heights.

Next on the hot list

Finally Maurinho gets the sack. He had it coming for sure. It was only a matter of time. The next person on the hot list is the Man U manager. Results have not been coming lately. Losing too frequently in the Premier league, knocked out of the Champions League, I don't know how long this can be tolerated. Again its a matter of time if results continue to go the way it is going. There's a few top class managers waiting in the wings, including Maurinho, believe it or not. For that, Van Gaal better start producing results, philosophy or not.

Holiday mood

At the airport yesterday, the queue for checking in was very long. The airport was crowded as well. I guess people are in the holiday mood. Its quite normal in December. Most people are on leave. I was on leave too. Have been away from the office since last Friday except for the few hours on Tuesday when I had to attend a meeting. Otherwise, I was at home most of the time. I will be back next Monday but only for three days cause it will be public holiday again on Thursday and Friday. Real work will only start in the new year I suppose.

Tired

Came back from Kucing feeling damn tired. The dinner didn't start until 9 pm because the guest of honour came late. Then it drag on till almost 11pm. By the time I reached mack to the hotel, it was already almost midnight. There's nothing to do anymore except sleep. The next morning took the plane at 9.25 am for the flight to KL. On reaching home, all I wanted to do was sleep. There was supposed to be a wedding invitation I had to attend but I was too tired. Sent my apologies.  Only at night my body started to recover a bit. I was able to go to the surau for the maghrib and Isya prayers.

No more holidays

Suddenly, today is already the last day of my leave. Sigh...... So fast. Tomorrow its back to work although I won't be in the office as I will be going to Kucing. What have I done during the holidays? Absolutely nothing! Days fly just like that. All my ambitious plans for the holidays didn't even get off the ground. I didn't leave the house at all except for Ikea yesterday. Otherwise, its was at home most of the time. I will be working till the end of the year from now on. No more holidays for 2015. 

Continuing my leave

I was at the office for about half a day yesterday although I was on leave. I was there for one meeting but ended up having to attend another meeting. In the end, I had to excused myself otherwise I would be caught in the heavy evening traffic on the way home. I wanted to avoid that especially when I am supposed to be on leave! Anyway, today and tomorrow, I am really on leave. I won't be going to the office till next Monday as on Friday I'II be going to Kucing. Will come back on Saturday morning.

Yesterday

Alhamdulillah, I believe I did alright with the kids last night. I am satisfied although off course I could have done better. Nevertheless, I am happy. It sort of atone for the disappointment of the previous night. 

My Astro has been out of action since early morning yesterday. Calls made to Astro only resulted in a machine answering. From morning till night, I couldn't get through. Terrible!

Chelsea lose again. The way things are going, Chelsea will be fighting a relegation battle instead of fighting for the title. On the other hand, unfancied Leicester is here to stay. They will be one of the clubs fighting for the title come April 2016.

I never

So many unexpected things have happened to me in the last few years that I will not be surprised if more unexpected things happen to me in the future. Nowadays, I do not discount anything. My only hope and wish is that if anything, it would not be something that I can't handle. I never thought I would work again after retiring in 2011. I never thought I would be an imam again after my last experience more than 10 years ago. I never thought I would be asked to give ceramah at a surau! I never thought I would ride a bike to work. I never thought I would be having children again after my last one more than twenty years ago. I never......

That's real cool

Its a public holiday for Selangor today. A bonus because of the Malaysia cup win by Selangor last Saturday. Last Friday was a public holiday for Selangor because of the Sultan's birthday. Saturday, Sunday and now Monday. An unexpected four days break. As it turned out, I will be on leave Tuesday till Thursday. So, for me, a seven days break! That's real cool. 

How do I get their attention?

After my talk last night, I was very disappointed with myself. I didn't think I did myself justice nor did I do justice for the audience. I chose the wrong topic, maybe. I don't know. It was too heavy a stuff for a surau audience, maybe. I don't know but whatever it was, I couldn't engage them. They were all somewhere else, away from me. Given another chance, I will have to try another tactic. Maybe simple easy stuff, not too much facts nor too much quoting from the quran. Tonight I have another assignment. To talk to school going children, 7 to 13 years old. Now, that's another tough one. How do I get their attention?    

Holiday!

Yeah.....its a public holiday on Monday. Selangor won the Malaysia cup last night. The Menteri Besar immediately announced a public holiday for the following Monday. That is great. On one hand, I have plenty of work to be done. On the other hand, I can do with the holiday. As it is, I have taken leave on Tuesday till Thursday. Now I have Monday as well. Tuesday I have to be in the office for a short while because of a meeting. Otherwise I am free till Friday when I will be traveling to Kucing.

Do my best

I am busy preparing for my talk at my local Surau tonight. I need to come prepared. This is something new to me, giving religious talk at a surau. Something I never dream of, I never expected. One thing I know, my father would be proud if he is still alive. He will be proud that his son is an imam and also an 'ustaz'. Therefore, I will do my best. I don't want to disappoint anybody, most of all myself. There might be just a handful of people in the audience but it does not matter. What matters is I have done my best, in sha Allah.

Unforgivable

The manager of Manchester United says the club will be wining again once they understand his football philosophy. That will take some time, he said. Well, after almost two seasons and millions of dollars spent, I do not see any philosophy except for the lack of it. What philosophy is he talking about when he keep playing players out of position, keep playing a player who is past his best, when defending seem to be the order of the day. Failing to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions league is bad enough. Losing to Bournemouth last night was unforgivable.   

Earning a living

There's so many things I want to do next week during holiday I need to list them down one by one less I forget. Its easy to forget when on holiday as I tend to lie down and do nothing. Before I know it, its already night. A day gone just like that. Don't know if I can do them all or not but I will try. Whatever it is, I look forward to it. Been a long time since I was on leave. Even when on leave, I have to come to work like last Monday. I was in the office from three till seven thirty in the evening. That's not the first time either. Many times already! Hmmm……that's the way it is now! I really have to earn for a living.

Dilemma

I have only three days leave left. Wanted to take them in the third week of December to coincide with the Maulid and Christmas holidays. That would mean 9 days away from the office altogether. Unfortunately, I couldn't as other people have taken theirs earlier. I have to cover when they are not around. Therefore I had to change the leave to next week starting Tuesday. On Friday the same week I have to go to Kucing for a black tie event. Now that is another problem because I don't have any jacket with me. I am not going to buy one just for this event. Initially I didn't want to go when told about the black tie but later was told I can wear batik. Then it is back to black tie. So, now I'm in a dilemma…...

Tired

This morning I'm feeling really sick. Its been one week bit it was not that bad previously. Just a little bit under the weather but this time I am feeling it. The body aches, the mind is tired and there's pain in the head. Maybe later in the day I have to see the doctor to get some medicine. I have a meeting this morning so I still have to work. The drive home from Kunatan yesterday was okay but after that I was back in the office till after seven. Normally after a long drive, on reaching home, I will have a good rest by sleeping. Yesterday, I was busy at work. That could be the reason why this morning I'm feeling not well.

Kuantan Holiday

Kuantan Holiday

Kuantan holiday

Enjoy

The children has a wonderful time in Kuantan. Akid now enjoys himself in the pool unlike before when he simply refused to have anything to do with the water. Now, he is not afraid anymore. As for Maisarah, for her, anything goes. Never afraid of anything. She is game for everything so there's no problem with her. I enjoyed myself too. Tried the water chute for the first time in my life. Was actually afraid in the beginning but tried anyway.

On leave but…….

Just came back from Kuantan. The company had a family day event over the weekend. The event was only for one day but we stayed another day for holiday sake. I also didn't want to get caught up in the Sunday crawl after the Genting Sempah tunnel till the Gombak toll. So I stayed another night at the hotel in Kuantan. Sure enough, those that went back yesterday were caught in a jam. This morning, the drive was smooth all the way. By about 2pm, I have reached home. Anyway, I am now at the office waiting for a meeting to start. As usual, I am on leave but work calls.

To be healthy

Come July next year, I will be looking at my second retirement. The first one was in 2011. That time I wanted to retire badly. Tired of working. This time around, I want to continue but age is not on my side. First, I need the cash. Second, I found my second wind. I sort of enjoy working. I see people who are in their sixties still actively working. Some are in their seventies. That's what I want to do. Keep working. It will keep me active, physically and mentally. I need that in order to keep myself healthy. Otherwise, I will be at home doing nothing. The body will deteriorate, the mind will stall.

Times are hard

Still have that not well feeling. As a result, I abandoned all thoughts of riding my bike to work today. Instead, I took the car. Usually, on Friday, I will ride my bike because in the afternoon, I have to go for Friday prayer. As usual, its so much easier using the bike rather than the car. Its been a few days since I sent my TV for repair. Until now, it is still not done. Maybe they are having trouble getting the spare part. Meanwhile, I am using a 16inch TV at home. It really make a difference. My house in Ceras is ready for rental. Unfortunately, until today, there is still no result despite using two estate agents. Hmmm….. times are hard I guess.  

Under the weather

Feeling a bit under the weather today. It started last night. This morning, I am still at work. Its not too bad. Maybe I'm a bit tired, mentally and physically. Last Sunday, I had already planned for my usual jog but unfortunately, it rained. Thus, I had no choice but to abort it. Yesterday, I rode the bike to work. I need to go to Bangsar South in the afternoon to change for a new Smarttac. I prefer doing so with the bike rather than the car. Its so much of a hassle with the car. Sure enough, I managed to do everything in less than an hour i.e. rode to Bangsar South, settle the problem at the Touch and Go office there and rode back.

Lets see

Its the first day of the last month of 2015. In short, its 1st December 2015. In my previous working life, this is the month when I will take long leave. Be away for two to three weeks and come back only in the new year. I can afford it as I was given 35 days annual leave. Now, its only 16 days. Plus two days off in lieu I had only 18 days. In January I was told I have 21 days but somehow in November I was told I only have 16 days. That's how I lost five days, just like that. That's also how I ended up with only 4 days left in December when I thought I still have 9 days. Anyway, I'm planning to take the 4 days towards the end of the year. Come back in the new year. In the past, many times I had to cancel my leave because of work. This time…. lets see.