Memories

Its almost four years ago when I was busy learning to be a travel guide. I enjoyed the experienced although in the end, I didn't become one. Just after taking the tourist guide exam, I started working again. So, although I passed the exam which qualify me to be a tourist guide, I didn't take the license as it would be pointless. I wouldn't have the time to be a tourist guide. Today, all that remains are memories to cherish. In life, these things happened.

An encounter

I still get the jitters when I am leading the prayer especially when I am reciting a verse that I seldom do. That was how it was this morning during the morning prayer when I decided to recite from Al Baqarah, 39-48. I had memorised it well. I have gone through it in my mind so many times. I was sure I could breeze through without any problem. There will be no mistakes. I had also recited it a few times before but somehow this morning, I was so jittery. The nervousness came and I couldn't stop it. Needless to say, butterflies were in my stomach. As a result, I couldn't think straight. My voice cracked. I started to struggle. I mumbled. Alhamdulillah there was somebody in the congregation who also memorised it. With his helped, I managed to get through. 

After the prayer, I wanted to find out who that person was. Turned out that person is still in his teens, a Tahfiz, meaning someone who has memorised the whole Quran. I have never seen him before at the surau. He said he is visiting his uncle who lives on the village.

Wish I was here

A new beginning

It was good

When I was driving Uber, I went to so many places that I have never been before. I can safely say that I would not go to these places if not for Uber. One of them is Ampang. Yes, I have been to Ampang many times but not to the places in Ampang that Uber took me. Some of them are so far out I never knew they even existed. Anyway, in one corner of Ampang, I found a restaurant that serves great 'rendang'. Its so delicious that I will surely go again to the restaurant in sha Allah. I discovered the restaurant 'Line Clear' is also in Ampang. That is another to be tried. When we were in Penang recently, we tried Line Clear. It was good.

Always another time

Monday to Friday is like the wink of an eye. It's that fast. Suddenly its Friday. In a way its good because that means tomorrow will be Saturday. When I was a working man, I like Saturday for it means a rest day from the office. Now that I am a retiree, I still like Saturday because of the football. Football matches locally and across Europe are mostly played on Saturday. I enjoy watching the matches on television. I used to be emotionally attached to the teams I supported but not anymore. I have learned to be detached. I like it if my team wins but if it loses, so what? I will not let spoil my day. Besides, there's always another time!

Three is a crowd

Just beginning

In my life, I have bought three houses and one land, built a house and sold one house. At the moment, I have three houses to my name but I am trying to sell one of them. I hope it will materialise soon. Anyway, due to me being a retiree, out of work meaning no income, I am trying my hand in the real estate business. I don't know how it will be like but I will give it a shot. All my life, I have only being a salaried worker so I think this is a totally new way of earning a living for me. Its a new beginning. Like I have always said, I am only just beginning, at sixty years old. Not too bad when I look at whoever will be the new President of the US of A for the next four years.

Great advantage

Being a retiree has its advantage cause I don't have to worry about going to work the next day. In that sense, I am able to follow the football matches even if its played at 3am Malaysian time. I don't have to worry about the next day feeling tired or sleepy. Therefore, I feel free to stay awake the whole night long if I want to. Then, in the morning, after all has been said and done, I can sleep when people are busy getting ready to go to work or are already on the road to work. That's a great advantage. Off course I can't afford to do that everyday or my health will be affected.

I can only agree

Looking at the way Dr M and Anwar is cosing up to each other, I can only what is known to everybody, that is there is no permanent friend or enemy in politics. Come to think of it, what happened to Anwar during the time of Dr M was terrible. It is unforgivable for most people but only a man with a big heart can forgive and forget. That's what Anwar is doing. He said the struggle for the the nation is greater than that of any individual. At a time when the country is facing its biggest crisis, the need of the nation surpass all. I can only agree.

A thrashing

A team led by Maurinho suffering a 4-0 beating is unthinkable but that's what actually happened at Chelsea. A thrashing at the hands of the host where he used to be the manager. I don't know what was the strategy he employed but whatever it was, it didn't work out. I was disappointed when Mata was not fielded in the first half. I thought he should play as he has been giving good performance. When you keep changing the team, it becomes disjointed. That's what happened with Man U. Maurinho needs to stick to one team, a first team. Not make wholesale changes.

Big

When I ordered tosei for breakfast yesterday, I never expected to receive such a big one. Its the biggest I ever had. Its so big the plate can't fit it all. It was also crunchy, just the way I like it. A very good meal to start the day.

More on Munirah

Never discount anything

Last night I gave my 'ceramah'. It went okay I think. I am satisfied but as usual, there's always room for improvement. I don't give talk everyday like some people. For me, its only once a month. Still, I am grateful to Allah for giving me this opportunity. After all, I don't have a strong religious background in terms of education, degree etc. To be given this opportunity is a big thing for me. Its something I never expected. Who knows, one day I might be giving talk everyday. In this life, never discount anything. That much I have learned from experienced. 

Dinner time

Munirah being fed by her mother.

Munirah and me

We are sixty years apart. She is my youngest child, almost seven month old. Her smile makes my day. In sha Allah she will grow up to be an obedient servant of Allah. Everything else will fall into place once that is taken care of.

Making a mess

Being a retiree, the days can be long and, surprisingly, tiring. Every morning I wake up, I have a whole day ahead of me, free. There are times when I have errands here and there but most of the time, I am free. So, what to do? I am trying to find a routine. Maybe I busy myself writing a book. Or find something else to do, anything that will keep me occupied. Not busy but occupied. At the moment, the kids are keeping me company. Looking after them is a whole day job. Akid is more than four years old already. Maisarah is almost three. Both of them can be more than a handful. Munirah on the other hand is only seven months old. She's crawling now. In a few months she will be walking in sha Allah. Then she can join her brother and sister, playing while making a mess of the house!

Making good money

When I was driving Uber, I met people from all walks of life. I also observed many things while on the road. One of the thing I noticed were the people selling by the roadside, mainly 'nasi lemak' especially in the morning. There's so many of them. They are everywhere, be it right in the middle of KL city or by the roadside in Bangsar, PJ or wherever. In front of supermarkets, restaurants or anyplace where they can put a tent, they will be there. I don't know how much they make in a day. Having said that, there's this story that has gone viral about a young girl, a university graduate in engineering who has rejected two job offers in order to continue selling nasi lemak. Must be making good money for her to do that!

Went to Seremban

Drove to Seremban yesterday to have a look at the house there. Been quite sometime since I last visited the house. Need to do some cleaning, look at the utility bills and do a few other things. I like the place but as for staying there, I am not sure when it can be. Maybe not ever but then life is so dynamic. Who knows the future? I might find myself staying there one day! Went there in the afternoon, did the things I needed to do, then drove for home reaching at about 7.30pm. This weekend I might have to go again because the grass needs to be cut. Only on weekend can I find the  people to cut the grass. On weekdays they are not around.

The debate

Watching the debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, I can't help but think how good it would be if we have the same here. Unfortunately, one side has been avoiding it at all cost, even saying that it is not our culture. That's a silly excuse. Debate is good, It stimulates the brain. It bring out the best in you. We, the audience watching can see who is talking facts and who is talking crap. In this case, it is obvious between the two. Not that I care much who wins the US of A presidency but I can see who has the clear edge. However, one thing I must say. Both look good considering their age. Clinton is 68 while Trump is 70.

Not my cup of tea

Went to the bank today for some errand. Used my motorcycle. It felt great to be riding again after a long time. I have decided to take a break from Uber driving for a while. Maybe even forever. It was good in the beginning. I enjoyed it for about a month but later on, it became quite a bore. I guess the job doesn't suit me. Besides, my knee was playing up a bit. If I continue, I worry my knee will get worse. All in all, I drove for about one and a half month, took almost three hundred rides, made a few thousand but in the end, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

There will be a way

When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. That's the philosophy I am holding on to now. I need a booster to prop up my spirit. Otherwise, I might end up swallowing in self pity. That will get me nowhere. I look at people who are facing even greater challenges. Yet they get on with it without any hesitation. There' no looking back. Move on and move up. I need to be like that. In sha Allah, there will be a way.

What else?

I continue to be surprised by the things that are happening in my life. The latest? It never crossed my mind that I would be driving a taxi one day but I am now. Driving Uber is driving a taxi, no beating about the bush about it. It is just the latest in the many turned of events in my life. I never ever thought I would one day be giving 'ceramah' at a surau but now I have a monthly slot. I never thought I would be an 'imam' again after my last experience many many years ago at a surau in USJ 20. That lasted for only four/five months. Now in Gombak, its almost two years. I never thought I would be leading a prayer  and giving a 'khutbah' but I did twice already for Aidil Adha. These are some of the few surprises that happened. I do not know what else is waiting for me in the future? I pray to Allah that whatever it is, it is for the good and something that I can handle.

Preparing for the rain

There's a lot of thinking to do on my part. I am still in the wilderness, as far as a job is concern although I needed one yesterday. Uber driving provided some relief but its only a stop gap measure. I need something more permanent, something more suited to me. Something I am used to like using the brain more rather than physical. Meantime, I have cut down on my expenses to make the saving last a little bit longer. It is drizzling now but there might come a day when it pours. I have to be prepared for it. My last saving grace are my two houses. Worse come to worse, I have to let go either one or both.

The weekend

The weekend was spent at home most of the time. Didn't go anywhere except for the short outing to a nearby Giant supermarket for groceries last night. I went jogging again on Sunday at Titiwangsa, after a long break. It was okay considering I have not been exercising much recently. Daily driving for hundreds of miles has taken a toll on my knee. My knee is hurting. Think I have to stop driving for a while or even stop altogether. Meanwhile, I still continue to lead the prayers at the surau whenever I'm there. Been almost two years now. The weekend was also spent preparing for my monthly ceramah at the same surau. Did some reading to brush up on my knowledge. 

Learning to crawl

Munirah is learning to crawl now. Last night at about 2am, I her her making some sound. I woke up and found her almost at the edge of the mattress, away from her usual place. Lucky thing these days, we sleep on the floor. Otherwise, she would definitely had fell off the bed. We have been sleeping on the floor for so many years already, ever since Akid was about one years old. He is now four plus. We found it safer and better that way. We don't have to worry about the babies falling off the bed. The space is also bigger, giving them more room to roll while sleeping, as kids usually do.

Less needed

Its been okay on the road this week although I do feel there were better times. Whatever it is, I carry on because of nothing better to do at the moment. As usual, was everywhere yesterday, driving almost four hundred kilometres in the process. By the time I was back home, I was totally drained out. These days, I wake up very early in the morning about twenty minutes to five. Somehow, my body refused to sleep after that time. At night, I sleep at about half past eleven. I guess as you get older, sleep is less needed.

Equal chance

With the defeat of Man City last night, the race for the title is wide open again. We all know the perfect start of Man City will not last. The question was when? It was answered last night with the defeat at Tottenham. My guess is there are a few teams that can win the league. They are Man City off course, Tottenham, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man U. Everton is a long shot but they may surprise. All are performing as expected at the moment. All are in the top half of the table. Its going to be exciting to see who will finally prevail. I dare not guess cause to me, they all have equal chance. 

Nice place to go

Went to my son's house in Kundang yesterday. On the way we passed by the well known 'Tasik Biru', a recreational area for people to unwind. I was surprised by the improvement they have done to the area. A lot of facilities have been added. It certainly looks better than those days when there was nothing much except for the lake. Now they have children playgrounds, a jogging track, sitting areas, stalls selling food and many others. The surrounding grass is well kept unlike before when they were growing without being attended to. The lake also looks blue and inviting. A nice place to go if my house is nearby.

One for the memories

Butterflies in the stomach

This time last year I was struggling with self confidence with regards to my recitation of the Quran while leading the prayers. I would stumble even with simple verses that most of the time I can recite without any problem. I completely lose it after a series of stutters and mistakes, eroding whatever confidence I have left. It was a real struggle, to overcome the problem, to get back to normal. I had to start all over again, sort of. I focus on the short verses, never mind if I was repeating them frequently. My objective was not to make mistakes. That will slowly build up my confidence level once again. Today, I have recovered although I must say not fully. The butterflies in my stomach will not go, that's for sure but at least I am able to control them better now.