thoughts

5 simple rules to be happy
Free your heart from hatred
Free your minds from worries
Live simply
Give more
Expect less

No one can go back and make a brand new start
Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending

God didn’t promise days without pain
Laughter without sorrow
Sun without rain
But he did promise
strength for the day
comfort for the tears
and light for the way

Disappointments are like road humps
They slow you down a bit
But you enjoy the smooth road afterwards
Don’t stay on the humps too long
Move on

When you feel down because you didn’t get what you want
Just sit tight and be happy
Because God is thinking of something better to give you

When something happens to you
good or bad
consider what it means
There’s a purpose to life’s event
To teach you how to laugh more
Or not to cry too hard

You can’t make someone love you
All you can do is be someone who can be loved
The rest is up to the person to realize your worth

The measure of love is when you love without measure

In life there are very rare chances that you’ll meet the person you love
And loves you in return
So once you have it don’t ever let go
The chance might never come your way again

It’s better to lose your pride to the one you love
Than to lose the one you love because of pride

We spend too much time
Looking for the right person to love
Or finding fault with those we already love
When instead we should be perfecting the love we give

When you truly care for someone
You don’t look for faults
You don’t look for answers
You don’t look for mistakes
Instead, you fight the mistakes
You accept the faults
And you overlook the excuses

Translation : A Marriage / A Union

Aiyuha Zawjee (husband), ponder this

A marriage or a union
Reveals a veiled secret
For the wife you married
Is not as noble as Khadijah
Nor is she as muttaqeen as Aisyah
Nor is she as persevering as Fatimah

In fact
Your wife is only a woman who at the end of her lifetime
Has ambition to be solehah

A marriage or a union
Teaches us our mutual obligations
A wife is the mother earth, you are the protecting sky
A wife is the planted fields, you are the fence
If the wife is deemed as the tamed animals, you are the shepherd
A wife is the student, you are the mursyidun
A wife is like a child, you are her source of pampering
In the moment, a wife is the honey, you drink to your heart's desire
In the moment, a wife is the poison, you are her antidote

If a wife is a curved bone
Be extra gently when straightening her

A marriage or a union
It brings us a humbling realisation
The need for iman and taqwa
To teeter the bridge of patience and Allah's acceptance

For having a wife who is not as perfect
Will inevitably jolt you from your ponderings
You are not Rasullullah saw
Nor are you Sayyidina Ali Karamallahhuwajhah
You are only a man who at the end of his lifetime
is striving to be a solihin
Amin..

Aiyuha Zawjatee (wife), ponder this

A marriage or a union
Reveals a veiled secret
That the husband who marries you
Is not as noble as Muhammad saw
Nor is he as muttaqin as Ibrahim
Nor is he as persevering as Ayyub
Nor is he as strong as Musa
Nor as dashing as Yusuf

In fact,
Your husband is only a man who at the end of his lifetime
Has ambition to leave behind
Descendents of soliheen
A marriage or a union
Teaches us shared responsibilities
A husband as the covering, you are the content
A husband as the ship captain, you are the navigator
A husband is like a cheeky actor,
you are his captivated audience
In the moment, your husband is a king
You relish the grapes of his paradise
In the moment, your husband becomes the venom, you are the antidote
If a husband turns snappish and hurtful,
have patience to remind him

A marriage or a union
It brings us a humbling realisation
The need for iman and taqwa
To teeter the bridge of patience and Allah's acceptance
Of Allah swt
For having a husband not as courageous
Will Inevitably jolt you from your ponderings
You are not Khadijah
who is perfect in caring for him
Nor are you Hajar who is so devoted despite her suffering
You are after all, only a woman at the end of her lifetime
Striving to be a solihah
Amin..

So, aiyuha Zawjee and Zawjatee
Do not expect too high
When you are obviously not as able

Zawjee and Zawjatee remember:
“Why long for a wife as great as Khadijah
when you yourself are not as noble as Rasullullah s.a.w
No need for a wife as beautiful as Balqis
when you yourself are not as great as Sulaiman
Why hope for a husband as dashing as Yusuf
When your love is not as pure as Zulaikha's
No need to look for a husband as capable as Ibrahim
When you are not as able as Hajar and Sarah...”

Pernikahan atau perkahwinan

A friend forwarded this piece which i find so very beautiful and deep. Not that they are something new or that i am oblivious of them, but i appreciate the piece.


Wahai SUAMI.... renungkanlah

Pernikahan atau perkahwinan
menyingkap tabir rahsia
Isteri yang kamu nikahi
tidaklah semulia Khadijah
Tidaklah setaqwa Aisyah
Tidaklah setabah Fatimah

Justeru,
Isterimu hanyalah wanita akhir zaman
yang punya cita-cita menjadi solehah..

Pernikahan atau perkahwinan
mengajar kita kewajiban bersama
Isteri menjadi tanah, kamu langit penaungnya
Isteri ladang tanaman, kamu pemagarnya
Isteri kiasan ternakan, kamu gembalanya
Isteri adalah murid, kamu mursyidnya
Isteri bagaikan anak kecil, kamu tempat bermanjanya
Saat is teri menjadi madu, kamu teguklah sepuasnya
Setika isteri menjadi racun, kamulah penawar bisanya

Seandai isteri tulang yang bengkok,
berhatilah meluruskannya...

Pernikahan atau perkahwinan
menginsafkan kita,
perlunya iman dan taqwa
Untuk belajar meniti sabar dan redho
ALLAH s.w.t kerana
Memiliki isteri yang tak sehebat mana
Justeru Kamu akan tersentak dari alpa
Kamu bukanlah Rasulullah s.a.w
Pun bukanlah Sayyidina Ali Karamallahhuwajhah
Cuma Suami akhir zaman
yang berusaha menjadi SOLEH....
Amin....

Wahai ISTERI pula...renungkanlah

Pernikahan atau perkahwinan
membuka tabir rahsia
Suami yang menikahi kamu
tidaklah semulia Muhammad s.a.w.
Tidaklah setaqwa Ibrahim
Tidak setabah Ayyub
Tidak segagah Musa
Apalagi setampan Yusuf

Justeru
Suamimu hanyalah lelaki akhir zaman
yang punya cita-cita membangun
keturunan yang soleh...
Pernikahan atau perkahwinan
mengajar kita kewajiban bersama
Suami menjadi pelindung, kamu penghuninya
Suami nakhoda kapal, kamu pengemudinya
Suami bagaikan pelakon yang nakal,
kamu adalah penonton kenakalannya
Saat suami menjadi raja
kamu nikmati anggur singgahsananya
Seketika suami menjadi bisa, kamulah penawar ubatnya
Seandainya suami bengis lagi lancang,
sabarlah memperingatkannya...

Pernikahan ataupun perkahwinan
mengajarkan kita
perlunya iman dan taqwa
Untuk belajar meniti sabar dan redho
ALLAH s.w.t. kerana
Memilik suami yang tak segagah mana..
Justeru Kamu akan tersentak dari alpa
Kamu bukanlah Khadijah
yang begitu sempurna di dalam menjaga
Bukanlah Hajar yang begitu setia dalam sengsara

Cuma wanita akhir zaman
yang berusaha menjadi SOLEHAH
Amin...


Justeru itu wahai SUAMI dan ISTERI
Jangan menuntut terlalu tinggi
Seandainya diri sendiri jelas tidak berupaya

SUAMI dan ISTERI ingatlah:
"Mengapa mendambakan isteri sehebat Khadijah
Andai diri tidak semulia Rasulullah s.a.w.
Tidak perlu isteri secantik Balqis
Andai diri tidak sehebat Sulaiman
Mengapa mengharapkan suami setampan Yusuf
Seandai kasih tak setulus Zulaikha
Tidak perlu mencari suami seteguh Ibrahim
Andai diri tidak sekuat Hajar dan Sarah...."

l o v e

disposable

it's been a while since i last went for my slimming sanctuary session. my beautician phoebe greeted me with 5-6 other ladies at the reception, everyone grinning. phoebe approached and held my arms. said "kak n - you dah lain... sangat lain, sangat kurus...!". Kembang gue tak terbicara. such line are becoming quite familiar these days (amboi! belagaknya - hopefully i wont be clouded and lupa akan zaman selambak dulu). Phoebe took me to the room. Sepersalinan menanti for me to change. Only that, this time the disposeable undies is in the form of a disposable g-string! akak gelak besar hehehehehe.... what you see is not what you get... i've got a long way to go!

a trip 'home'

was in S@M yesterday, for a business visit. Did not expect what's awaiting for me tho. I met the lot i used to work with for almost - 5 years. The last time i was there was the day i moved out - end July 2007. Approaching the office, i realized the growing pang of 'sadness', yet meeting everyone made me feel like i was returning 'home'.

lots of huggings and kisses with those on the floor. i dropped in the bosses rooms, said hello and update news on the happening around my 'new' job and the 'new' me.
it was nice to be received welcomingly.

the girls in particular came hugging and astonished with my new look, the slimmer me, alhamdulillah. it makes me feel so good and i am all too willing to share my regime, encouraging them that if i could do it - so could they. i must thank my personal trainer for the push (today taking her for lunch @ ayam penyek :)).

so much to catch up, so little time.. yet in the shortest of time sempat jugak the 'makciks' asked me some personal questions, the kind i have been living without for the last year or so.

when i was driving back to my office in kd, i was overwhelmed with today's experience (minus the intruding questions from the so-call makciks) - wanting to reach out for more from those lot. i dialed a few numbers to thank them and hope to see them again soon.

then i found myself calling KL who is the wife to one of the bigshot of SCP.
KL after registering that it was me (i'm with my current mobile number having discarded the one she kept) 'you calling nak jemput kenduri kawin ka?' i struggled to excuse my case and the fact that it was a small wedding at a masjid. She shot -'why? you think i dont enter masjid?'.. kena lagi!

then i shared with her my experience today - that i am identifying the sadness returning to SCP - because, i was returning to the place i had to leave kerana merajuk (duhh!). i was taken for granted for rounds of episodes and empty promises. some gave hopes and therefore i was hanging on to those. While i continued giving it all on my part, these people went home at the end of the day, good nite sleep tight and life goes on. The recognition wasn't balance. Merajuk? (oh dear!) but in the corporate world, and in life for that matter, one could merajuk big time and when you're not dealing with the right kind of people - it becomes - who cares - sapa nak pujuk? Noone is indispensable.



In my SCP case, KL's hubby requested for me to stay on - timely for him to chart his plans, but i was at the edge of falling and breaking - and with the opportunity i found - i left anyway - merajuk matched and terpujuk with the better opportunity. For over a year now, i worked at more than double the salary, at half the workload. That's pretty big bonus, alhamdulillah. He works mysteriously - putting one to a test and it's kunfayakun.

Continuing with my sharing with KL, telling her why i was not in touch for so long. I chose to keep myself away from those who knew too much - most people do that in recuperating. Not that it matters what others think and say, and neither am i putting them at fault. but i was at such a stage that i could be better off without the additional problem others could be creating for me. thank you.

At the end of the day - and for the sekian kalinya, one only needs Allah. People - friends and families - are some form of bonuses. YOU are in incharge of your own destiny / life, answerable only to Him... YOU make the choice - nak make a situation good or bad, recognize the hikmah disebalik sesuatu kejadian. it's never about merajuk sapa nak pujuk really ;) While whining and ranting every now and then - well i'm born pompuan!

Guide me Ya Allah.

i wish

came home after the airport session
it felt so much emptier
and that pang of hollow
that's getting all too familar
each time you go ..

picked and safe-placed
all belongings
just need to eliminate
all spots, bumps and traces
that would add to the bleeding
of this wounded heart

am not looking forward
to waking up
in the midst of the nite
searching,
wondering
and coming to terms
with this stretching distance
all over again

life goes on
o yes - i will be okay
just that
- i wish ...

insignificant

i cud be better
without that insignificant feeling
suddenly the excitement dies down
and i wish
time went slower

wonder no more

i used to wonder
why and why not
why is life so easy, breezy and glorifying for some
and so hard, sticky and demeaning for others

I used to get so upset and confused
when i’ve done all the right stuff
and worked my butt for my noble aim
and the result
- is an absolute miss

i used to wonder
how one could tolerate certain unbecoming situation
and not move on for a better option

i used to wonder,
what's life like with those at their 30, when i was 20
how is it like being 40, when i was 30,

as i turned 40,
i suppose i have a fair deal of life myself
to have that faith
that everything happens for a reason
as long as they are not against the prohibition of our deen,
one simply must have the faith
and put the best effort
for each nawaitu lillahita'ala

one gets her reward/share
for the faith
and for each of those effort
the end result - is of His dept,
if achieved is a bonus,
if it’s not, it’s not meant to be
– there’s something else in line for you..

Insyaallah.

sa-ah

counting
7, 6, ...
panicking
while also
having the bliss

but
sekejapnya
sa-ah yang ada
oooo my zawja

can't complain
just can't have it all
simply cherish
and make the best
of each sa-ah

counting
7, 6, ...
panicking

3 black men

At the National Art Gallery in Dublin, a husband and wife were staring at a portrait that had them completely confused.
The painting depicted three black men totally naked sitting on a park bench. Two of the figures had black willies, but the one in the middle had a pink 'willie'.
The curator of the gallery realized that they were having trouble interpreting the painting and offered his assessment.
He went on for over half an hour explaining how it depicted the sexual emasculation of black men in a predominately white, patriarchal society. 'In fact, 'he pointed out, 'some serious critics believe that the pink willie also reflects the cultural and sociological oppression experienced by gay men in contemporary society.'
After the curator left, an Irishman, approached the couple and said, 'Would you like to know what the painting is really about?'
'Now why would you claim to be more of an expert than the curator of the gallery?' asked the couple.
'Because I'm the guy who painted it,' he replied. 'In fact, there are no black men depicted at all. They're just three Irish coal miners. The guy in the middle went home for lunch.

mungkir

Pada penyaksian
sebuah
ketidaksetiaan
kemungkiran
membawa aku
ke singkapan
perjalanan yang lalu

Hancur luluh
kala terbongkar
kesah pencerobohan
pada sedunia harapan

Gementar
perit
kecewa
gagal
kesal
berbaur
kehampaan
dan
kesedihan

Hatiku berserta
sungguh kesian
pada insan
yang berharap
pada kesetiaan zawaja

Peristiwa luka
mengajar
kupupuk dalam diri
hidupkan harapan
hanya padaMu Tuhan

Engkau tak pernah memungkiri janjiMu

Permudahkan perjalananku

masih

bergenang
airmata
menyimbau
waktu
cukup
padat
rasa
cantiknya
hampir sempurna

Tuhan
tentukan
rezeki hamba
rezeki
bertumpang
sementara

senyap
terbatas
tapi
tetap mensyukuri
tetap mengenang
masih
jauh tapi dekat
dalam doa

jauh lagi
perjalanan
kita
teman
doa
kita semua diberkati

He says..

Therefore remember Me (by praying, glorifying, etc.). I will remember you...

A handbook

For each and every year indeed !

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.*
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.*
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.*
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.*
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:*
40. To share this with everyone you care about*

sempadan

ku bina
sempadan
antara
ruang
yang mampu
ku lewati
kejauhan
ketidakpastian
yang selalu
menggores
rasa
duka
alahai..
kejauhan itu
dekatnya di hati
dan hati pun
sering
mengintai
tertanya
apa
kenapa
bila
tak tertanggung
menitip
kenapa duka
di cari?
akurlah
ruang mu
di sempadan ini

Our Hope is betwen our Tears

I love this piece. Simply need to store this for handy reference:

When trials come, as they do, what will the first words on our lips be?
To Umm Zayed, the words of the Istirjaa prayer - to Allah we belong and to Him will we return - helped her to reconcile with a sudden and unexpected loss.

WE are taught that we should not ask for or seek out trials or difficulties in life. In fact, our Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed us to “Seek refuge with Allah from trials and tribulations, both visible and hidden” (Sahih Muslim). Yet, the virtues and rewards of observing patience in the face of adversity is highly extolled in our deen.

In the story of Umm Al-Momineen, Umm Salamah, she narrates the events following the death of her beloved husband, Abu Salamah. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) taught her how best to respond to her trial, by teaching her the beautiful words of the Istirjaa.

She says:
“The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘There is no Muslim who suffers a calamity and says what Allah has commanded: ‘Innaa Lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raji’oon. Allahummaa ujurni fi musibati w’ukhluf li khayran minha’ (Truly! To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return. O Allah, reward me for my calamity and compensate me with something better than that), but Allah will compensate him with something better.

“When Abu Salamah died, I said, ‘Who among the Muslims could be better than Abu Salamah, the first family to migrate to the Messenger of Allah?’ Then I said (this Du’a) and Allah compensated me with the Messenger of Allah.” (Sahih Muslim).
The inspiring narrative ends on a happy note where she is blessed with a new husband in the person of the Prophet (peace be upon him) – a prospect she could never have imagined. This was the result of her faith, her patience and her Du’a at the time of her loss.

One can feel the emotional turmoil Umm Salamah went through and reflecting on the power of Allah, and make a Du’a: “Oh Allah, don’t put me into any trial. But if and when you do, for You do as You will, according to Your Wisdom, then guide me to remember You when calamity strikes. Guide me to the Istirjaa. Give me the strength of faith and soundness of mind to pray to you for patience and better compensation at that critical moment.”

“Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil).” (Qur’an, 2:155)
Indeed whatever is destined for us, good or bad, will come to pass. Allah can test us and whenever this will happen, don’t forget to say:
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raajioon. Allah humma ujurni fi musibati wa ikhlufli khairun minha.”

Indeed, Allah will listen our Du’a. Indeed Allah will guide us. Allah is Most Loving and Most Merciful to His servants.
The scholars have said that if we are guided to patience and to the words of Istirjaa after a disaster hits us, we should thank Allah for this honour. The Qur’an tells us: “… Give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere” (Qur’an, 2:155).
Every traumatic periods are short-lived. We should remind ourselves of the special blessing of Allah on us at hard times.
Only Allah Who took care of us yesterday and will take “O Allah, if and when you decide to try me again, guide my heart to more than patience. Guide me to the state of Ridha (pleasure in God’s decree and decision).”

Ameen.

Doa untuk Mak

text from Makkah @ 2 October, 2008

Mak!
yang kusayang dan kurindui
kulihat RAMADHAN dari kejauhan
kudekati lalu aku sapa
ia hendak ke mana?
dengan lembut ia berkata:
Aku harus pergi
mungkin jauh dan sangat lama
tolong sampaikan pesanku untuk siMukmin
SYAWAL akan tiba sebentar lagi
ajaklah SABAR untuk temani hari-hari dukanya
peluklah ISTIQAMAH saat dia kelelahan
dalam perjalanan TAQWA,
bersandarlah pada TAWADHU' saat kesombongan menyerang
mintalah nasehat dari QURAN & SUNNAH
di setiap masalah yang dihadapi
sampaikan pula salam dan terimakasih untuknya
kerana menyambutku dengan sukacita
kelak akan aku sambut di SYURGA
di pintu AR-RAYYAN

Selamat IdulFitri
mohon maaf lahir dan bathin
Anakmu,
Yusuf & Ridwan

measurement

I got myself a new trainer and it's measurement day.. Becky my trainer did her job to plan for my next regime. She asked what's my priority - weight loss or body toning? Taking various factors of importance to me, told her i want a combo - loose a few more kgs and tone up, by end March. It's gonna be lots of hard work, but i am enjoying myself alright. Hope to progress timely for DH's next visit.

While waiting, Rina, another trainer, made remarks that she could not relate to how i could stand being so far apart from my husband - seeing one another only after 4 months or so. She quoted that her husband left for a week training and she was all so freaking out. LOL :) I didn't bother checking which aspect she's referring to her freaking ;) but i shared some thots with the young woman. That - some things in life go beyond our planning.

Never did i imagine going through a failed marriage. Was hoping and working hard to save it - thinking that's the best i should do. Then i found myself going through a divorce anyway. Painful it was, but at the end of it, i was definitely happier being a divorcee. Sure, there were all the problems being a divorcee, some of which were unthinkable and absurd.. understood only by those in the same boat. Lonely i was, but i was more at peace, felt more secure.
Then I met AA, eventually tied the knot. As much as i would love to be with my husband, live together like other couples do, i know i am in a better state of being today than i was before.
Daily I am dealing with my loneliness etc, etc, etc, but somewhere out there, i know i have someone who is also counting days to see me.

Life - has its measurement chart as well. Like my current weight which is yoyo-ing, i need to manage these selected factors listed in the chart. I pray hard, for His guidance, to improve and have the right factors worked-on. Timeline? to work as though you're living forever and prepare yourself like death is tomorrow.

Today, bi-iznillah, I am definitely better in terms of my weight; I am definitely stronger in terms of my being.

Anak Angkat

Was packing for CNY-balik kampong, making sure i got all the necessary packed. Included in the toiletries is a bottle of this perfume yang i dah lama tak pakai. Thot rather than have it crowding my dressing table, i might as well leave it with the rest for my options/consumption in penang.

The scent of the perfume took me back to so many episodes in years 2005-2006 when there were repeated tremor in my marriage. I am pleased that of all the mega episodes, the scent brought me to revisiting my trip attending to Adik Yusuf - a mutawwif who later adopted mak as his mother di Jabbal Rahmah.
I was driving and he was by my side. Masa tu terasa tersusuk hidung with the very scent.. too strong that i felt bad - berbaur antara malu, segan and dosa - memakai wangi-wangian and being with a non-muhrim. Well - it's "Adik" Yusuf to me - but nonetheless - he is a non-muhrim and hukumnya tetap haram! Awat la pi salah picit - terbanyak la pulak spray effect hence the VERY strong scent! Sendiri pun terasa pening lalat..kesian Adik Yusuf. Was thankful that he did not comment apa-2.... alahai.

Having visited the episode - terkenang pulak - whatever happened to him and the lot. Spoke to Adik Yusuf last after i received a text from him. The text was meant for Mak - a beautiful poem/doa from Makkah. He was with adik Ridwan and Feri. I miss all of them .. Adik Yusuf would normally call before visiting mak, almost each time he comes back from attending to Umrah or Hajj. And as usual - we dont take janji Adik Yusuf too seriously - we know very well that his schedule are sooo tak menentu with unplanned requests from jemaahs and what nots. Mak is so blessed, alhamdulillah, dikurniakan anak angkat in the capacity of Ustaz Yusuf... who has brought along his whole family to be part of our clan. Hence his mother, his wife Wardiah, the kids - Jabir, Yasin and Idris, Ustaz Ridwan, Nisa, Siti Khadijah and Siti Aminah in our life. I tumpang menempek jadi kakak... tumpang-tumpang hendaknya terpalit dalam their prayers.

Was in Tesco with Mak, CikLi, Qayyum and Aiman looking for stuff in mak's list. I noticed a miss call with an unfamiliar number. Thot i'd deal with it later. Before settling down in bed at around 11-nish, as though ada strong pull, i dialled the number. Didn't expect a pickup at that hour but thot at least i've made the effort to return the call. If it's of any importance - expect the other end to take the action.

CNY morning - monday, packing & getting prepared to head home to KL after asar. Was was showering when my mobile rang... 'Assalamualaikum kak...' the voice of adik Yusuf. He's somewhere in a hotel in Butterworth, arrived the few days before from Jeddah, to Melaka, to Penang to take a ferry home with his mom and parents-in-law after a 5 months stay in Mekah. Masyaallah... seronoknya, being in Mekah for 5 MONTHS! I imagine turning into an angel (heheheh!)... simply makan-tidor and lots of ibadah-taubat between Masjidil Haram and Masjid Nabawi.

I asked Adik Yusuf for an hour to be there fetch him and the additional clan. Mak and I took them to a restaurant known for its fresh ikan bakar in Bandar Perda. But since they insisted they have taken heavy breakfast, we bought fruits - some durian, manggis, dokong, tembikai, grapes instead.

Kisahnya - Adik Yusuf still cud not secure the ferry tickets. So main task, drive him to penang for the tickets. NOONE would be willing to drive to penang on a CNY day. I think it's being smart as well as thoughtful to free the roads and traffic for the Chinese for their visiting and raya-ing business. But there i was - around 1:20 pm joining thousands others struggling to stay insane, fighting the traffic with hundreds of other vehicles - ciluk-menciluk, caci-mencaci (not me laa), fingers and fists going up in the air. Seriously - never imagined i would be driving to Penang - on Chinese New Year Day!
Caught in the bloody jamm, Adik Yusuf sitting next to me, Qayyum and Aiman at the back seat. We went one round of tazkirah after checking on our bacaan al-Fatihah with al-ustaz, he covered the rukun solat, i forwarded a few kemushkilan between mazhabs - mine and DH's; went into kisah Ali (another Mutawwif - Adik Yusuf's anak penakan, was my mutawwif in my solo 2nd umrah) and his predicaments in selecting his wife (may Allah Guide him). Had a good laugh dengar ceritera Adik Yusof.. by 3:30pm we were still stucked at the bibir of the penang bridge!

Wa ga lu kong - it takes LOTS OF GUTS to have your car move 2 inches and it's about surviving the ciluk-menciluk (seriously - tengah jamm macam tu nak ciluk celah mana.. can't people just stay in their queue and behave civilized!). Kalau Adik Yusuf tak de, i could have joined the finger bisnes. Err.. who's talking about being civilized?

We got to the ticket counter around 4.30-ish, thankful to secure the last 4 tickets to Medan. Alhamdulillah.

Mak senyum sampai ke telinga happy jumpa her Anak Angkat again!

Trip home to Kl deferred to Tuesday morning.