Sunday, January 18, 2015

Year 2015 in View

Normally we tend to start a new year with Resolutions and this is what I will attempt to do here to capture and hopefully look back at this year end, insya-Allah.

For myself, my hopes and planning for year 2015 would be:
1. To be a good and loving mother for my 3 daughters and 2 sons - to yell less, to understand more, to laugh and be with them at any important event which they require my presents
2. To be a good and loving wife to my husband - to reduce my temper, to communicate and increase tolerance. Thanks Dearest for loving me unconditionally all these 16 years without ever giving up that one day I will change for the better.
3. To be a better daughter to my mum - to call, visit and bring her over more often. This would be my challenge as I am not close to mum since small. We always had our differences in thoughts and views and I still feel today that sometimes my mum do not truly see me for the woman I have become. Then again it could be just my imagination as we are often more critical of ourselves than others really are.
4. To start my own business - this is my biggest challenge and worry this year as I would like to make a start towards financial independence. I do love what I do; after 16 years in my profession I have grown to love my job and the work I do. However in the long run, with the children growing up and requiring more of my attention and attendance, my work will not enable me to spend as much time as I want with them. So I have to think of a change; indeed a change is a scary thing and even more scarier for a girl like me who likes to have control over every single thing.

Update to this list:
5. To learn to manage my stress better aka to yell less to my beloved children even if they do test the limit sometimes. Target is to limit to 1 yell incident per month (take a deep breath on this pledge)

So I will start with this 4 resolutions first and see whether I can meet my own expectation by year end. Wish me luck and pray for me too.

Important milestones this year too for us as family:

1. Hasanah will be taking her iGCSE this year in May/Jun. I pray that she will be healthy and do well in her exams. I will try to support her as much as I can.

2. Aliyah will be taking her JLSA and UPSR exams this year. Good luck my baby girl! You can do it and I will pray for your success.

3. Husband and I have made appeal to request for places to perform our Hajj this year. We have registered for Hajj pilgrimage since year 2002 and have missed few window of opportunities since then. I pray with Allah's Rahim and Rahman that may we have the chance to go for Hajj this year. Please pray for us too. My heart yearns to go to Mekah and see the Kaabah in person again; truly a magical peaceful feeling. It's is as if the sky above the Kaabah can see directly to the heavens, subhanallah.

Here to 2015 resolution. May Allah grant us the knowledge and patience to succeed. Ameen.

Till next time, insya-Allah

Run for a new beginnining

Last Saturday on the 17th we had a school cross country run for the girls at FRIM Kepong Botanical Garden. It was fro Primary 4 up to Sec 5 Classes. So Wajdi is spared this time round - next year handsome boy! Parents are invited to run with their children; mostly for moral support I guessed. The purpose of the run is for the school to start the new academic year with a healthy activity aka running which is not the norm for Malaysians. We'll gladly do a makan-makan (community eating) session any time of the year!

Since I already ran last year for Hasanah's 6.2 km near UIA area; I signed up mostly caused I felt challenged when Hasanah said last year most of the Indonesian students mum signed up and one even won the race. Needless to say the "kiasuism" spirit is very much still in me, I prefer to term it as positive competition hehehe. I signed up for that run without much exercise prior to that except for running around the apartment compound and swimming on Tuesday; to end up with a massive headache next day Wednesday and run the actual road run itself on Thursday. Hasanah was so sceptical about me running that she made subtle hints (more than subtle I think) for me to cancel my run intention. I think she had this vision that I'd be carried away in a ambulance during the run :)

But no worry, happy to report that I did finished the run in good health; no ambulance drama and even managed to come up on the 4th place in the parents/mum category; although I couldn't be sure whether there were only 4 mums running that day (?) I am sure it looked like 10-15 mums at that starting line or at least that is what I imagined.

Now sorry for the throwback to Hasanah's road run, returning to Afifah's and Aliyah's cross country run at Kepong Botanical Garden. Aliyah and myself was doing the 4km run for primary girls category (thanks to Allah that the school thought that we mum would be more suitable for this category) while Afifah ran the 5km for lower secondary girls. The run was done in the botanical garden around the lake; it was a nice area to run with tall trees, green grass and surrounding a nice lake. I was too worried about having enough energy to finish the race so didn't really had time to enjoy the surrounding then.

I finished the run in 25mins and managed to finish in the top 10 places ( I think as the school only counted up to first 5 runners; what a pity as I am sure we mums would have wanted to know where we stood). Aliyah finished on the 9th place and Afifah on the 3rd place for their respective categories. Good job girls.. we will do better next year insya-Allah now that we know what to expect for this place. That is if the school decides to do the run at the same place next year.

So that's our running story to start this year. As much as I HATE DETEST running, I do know that it's probably the easiest exercise for me to do apart from swimming. I hate going to gyms even more.
Thus this year, we would probably end up doing more of these types of runs especially aiming for those that involves the whole family like the Tropicana Golf Run we did last year. That was fun and a nice way to explore KL surrounding areas. The girls we would probably sign up for more competitive running to enrich their learning especially Hasanah as she loves to run.

So let's run whole heartedly ahead to new adventures!

Till next time, insya-Allah


Wednesday, January 14, 2015

LONG HIATUS



This is truly truly a long break from this blog of mine. Obviously I am not the writer I thought I was. I have not been writing as regularly as I had planned. What I wanted this blog to be was to share my thoughts with those who matters so that in time & future they may know me a bit better. So I guess it's truly for my children that I want to write for here.

Many things have changed since my last post. We are now back in Malaysia & the family is reunited here with my eldest daughter. We are staying in a cozy apartment aka smallest dwelling for us yet in the heart of KL.

Yenzi Camp in Gabon now is a fond memory for our family. The friends & lessons we gained from there I will be forever grateful to Allah for allowing us to live there for the past 4 years. I cannot believe today when I say I miss GabonπŸ˜€πŸ˜€. Things has obviously changed since my previous thought on life there. In due time I will reminisce about the happenings there; obviously a lot has past since.

Now I shall capture today the most important event. Unfortunately it is not a happy one though to begin this year. Last week I lost another important person in my life; my dearest Aki (grandpa) passed away on Tuesday 6th January. He fell really sick the week before as he was diagnosed to have some TB infection in his lungs. He was already about 78 years old so I was already aware of his impending mortality. However I did not plan to lose my Aki when we had just been back to Malaysia for 7 months. One of the reason we came back was to enable to spend more time with families back home.

I don't want this to be a sad post so I want to remember my grandpa as the way he lived.
  • He came from Miri
  • I don't know how many siblings he has exactly, I've met a least 3 of them from Miri.
  • He has a very fair complexion; I know he was a handsome chap during his youth. Wished I inherited that fair complexion from him.
  • Aki doesn't say much, he was the quite one while Ini grandma is the opposite  πŸ˜ƒ
  • Humble &  lead a simple life; he refused lands offered to him when he worked a land surveyor back in those long long time ago before Miri became the city it is now.
  • Works hard like all longhouse men I know from my childhood. I always remember him with his faithful companion dog, Jugam, going to the kebun to work.
I will log it here that I love you Aki and thank you for being there for me during my teenage years especially. Sometimes it is more of the presence and silent gesture that one needs to feel loved as I did with my gentle and soft spoken Aki.  I am glad that I did spend more time & effort with Aki compared to my late Ini Bua. However the sadness is the same to lose another beautiful person in my life. I hope that now I will make more effort to see my only remaining grandparent, Ini.


Till next time, insya Allah

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Ini Bua

This morning while preparing breakfast as usual, my hubby told me that my sister in on the line. My grandma, from my late dad's side has passed away this morning 2am Msian time.

Ini Bua, that's what I called my grandma from my Dad's side. "Ini" means grandma in Iban language. I was shocked to hear the news, but not surprised actually, as I know that she has been unwell for a while. I don't know how old she is actually because in the olden days, babies birth are not registered immediately as today's babies are.

I have not seen my Ini Bua for many years now. Perhaps more than 5 years already. It was entirely my fault as I have fallen to usual trappings to let my busy life with family, work and friends hinder me from visiting her more often. Definitely she had deserved more visits from me than those that I have given her. She was not present when we buried our father, her 2nd youngest son,  four years ago. Not because she did not want to, but her children did not know how to tell her then about my dad's sudden death. Her health has always fragile and so was her mind, so they only told her much later. She must have had regrets for not being there to bury her own son.

I don't know much about my Ini Bua growing up years. I don't know where she was born, where she grew up, if she had gone to school at all. In fact, I don't really know what her life history was. It is not the usual kind of thing you would talk about those days but now when I think of it, why not? Why should we, the younger generations not make an effort to know our own history. Where are our grandparents born? What kind of childhood did they have? How was being a mother and a wife 50 or 60 years ago? What were their aspirations then?

If I think about it, my Ini Bua and I must have lead very different lives altogether. She probably had lived where she was born all her life. Never been out of Sarawak till her death. My late Aki Bua, her husband died when I was very young. Don't exactly remember when but maybe when I was 10 years old. So she had lived on almost another 35 years after her husband's death. It must have been difficult for her to be alone all those years without her husband by her side.

I feel sad that I am so far away here in the African continent when she died today. I cannot go to her funeral but I would like to visit her grave when I go back. To remind myself of my roots, which I think I am forgetting a little bit. In my mind, she was always my link to my late father, who had surprised me by passing away so soon at the age of 54 years old, before I had the opportunity to spend more time with him.

When someone passes away, they are truly gone. They are not coming back and all your regrets will always be there for years to come. For the things that you have done and have not done. The only thing that remains is the memories that you have of them. Whatever little memories they may be. So for me, I remember my childhood years of coming back to Engkilili to visit my Ini Bua during school holidays. She was a kind and loving woman. She called me "Injil" and was always doing her best to entertain her many grandchildren. Looking for "karikap" - local edible snails, looking for kedondongs, roasting "poli" - lemang and making sticky kuih bulan. I will always have those memories of her.

Ini Bua, sorry I never said it aloud but I love you very much and will always miss you. May God have mercy for your soul.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Kata Mutiara

 I take this article from Dr Harlina Haliza Siraj website. To the wonderful mum, wife and Dr, all the credit goes.

http://drhar.blogspot.com/2012/01/talian-hayat-buat-isteri-nota-1-50.html

It is a brilliant article. It's is in Malay but I think it also worth an English translation so that many others can benefit. I  know that I have not been easy on myself and others but I am trying. 50 is a lot but take one advice per day. Baby steps...

Quote:

Mudah-mudahan 50 Talian Hayat ini dapat serba sedikit membantu sesiapa sahaja yang memerlukan. Mohon disebarkan untuk tatapan semua yang bergelar isteri...

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 1 - Ikhlaskan niatmu menjadi teman hidup pasanganmu. Ketetapan Allah memilih yang seorang ini buatmu, dari berjuta lelaki di dunia. Pasti ada hikmah yg tersirat dan tersurat. Ayuh, kita selongkar rahsia Allah itu dalam hidup seharian bersama, pasti di situ kau kan temui bahagia....

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 2 - Pertahankan ikatan pernikahan yang dibuat atas nama Allah yg Maha Agung. Hanya dgn nama-Nyalah, apa yang asalnya haram antara engkau & sidia, menjadi halal dan dibolehkan. Genggam erat ukhuwwah yg terjalin - penuh pasrah dan tawakkal.

TALIAN HAYAT UNTUK PARA ISTERI : Nota 3 - Pandu arah kehidupan bersama ini semata2 utk mencari redha Allah. Saling bantu membantu dalam usaha kebaikan dan takwa. Kumpulkan sebyk mungkin bekalan. Moga tika kita terpaksa berlutut di depan Allah sendiri-sendiri, amal bakti yg kita kutip bersama mampu meraih belas ihsan Allah buat kita sekeluarga.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 4 - Fahamilah erti sebenar taat kepada suami yang disarankan agama. Ketaatan itu bukannya menurut semua perintah suami tanpa usul periksa. Demi hubungan yg harmoni & sejahtera, elok benar kalau siisteri yang mengalah / `surrendered',di saat kita mampu menunjuk lagak menyombongkan diri terhadap suami. Merendah diri bukan minta dipijak-pijak! Sekadar menunjuk akhlaq terpuji, agar tenang hati suami. Rugikah kita para isteri kalau kita taat secara rela diri?

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 5 - Selitkan doa setiap masa, moga Allah SWT mencampakkan hidayah-Nya ke dalam hati suami kita. Moga lebih cinta dia kepada iman, takwa dan ihsan. Moga dia terus gigih mencontohi suami teragung, Muhammad SAW. Mudah-mudahan jua, bersama kita meniti kehidupan dalam redha dan kasih sayang Allah setiap masa dan ketika!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 6 - Hargailah setiap usaha, kasih sayang, saraan hidup dan pemberian suamimu, insan kerdil yg begitu gigih cuba melaksanakan amanah berat di bahunya. Hentikan cemuhan, kritikan, sindiran dan perli dlm setiap patah ayat yg ditujukan utknya. Gantikan dgn kata semangat dan keyakinan yg mampu mendorongnya menjadi suami yg lebih menyerlah, InsyaAllah.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 7 - Didiklah hati agar menyayangi wanita yang melahirkan suamimu, kenanglah jasanya mendidik anak lelakinya menjadi pasangan yang mengasihimu kini. Jangan sekali jadi musuh @ saingannya, sekalipun itu mungkin tanggapan ibu mertua terhadapmu. Yakinkan hatinya, bahawa engkau bukanlah perampas kasih anaknya. Engkau sebenarnya permata yang menyinari hidup suami dan juga penyeri hidupnya, jika dia sudi memberi peluang tersebut kepadamu!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 8 - Belajarlah untuk ikhlas dalam memberikan kasih sayang dan cinta utk suamimu. Seringkali ada sahaja niat dan sebab musabab lain semasa kita melafazkan ikrar kasih. Jika benar ikhlas, engkau takkan mudah kecewa jika sesekali seperti cintamu tidak berbalas, penat lelahmu tidak dihargai.
Keikhlasanmu kan menjadi daya penarik yg kuat mengikat hati suamimu kepadamu!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 9 - Serlahkan bakat dan potensimu, gunakan kecerdasan dan keupayaanmu untuk memberi manfaat kepada orang lain. Prihatinlah kepada keperitan hidup masyarakat di luar sana, bantulah semampu boleh. Jadilah manusia yang banyak jasanya - pasti suami dan anak-anakmu bangga beristeri dan beribukan seorang yang istimewa seperti kamu!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 10 - Bijaklah mengurus masa, modal anugerah Allah kepada kita semua. Senaraikan keutamaanmu dan tumpukan usaha mendahulukan mana yang sepatutnya dibereskan dahulu. Dapatkan bantuan suami dan anak2 untuk menyelesaikan tugasan. Jangan bebankan dirimu cuba menjadi `wanita luarbiasa' - suamimu cuma inginkan seorang isteri solehah yg bijaksana!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 11 - Beranikan dirimu untuk mempercayai kejujuran suamimu dalam melayari bahtera ini bersama. Sesungguhnya, kepercayaanmu ibarat titisan air yg diperlukan oleh rimbun untuk kekal menghijau. Tanpanya, ia akan layu kekuningan. Namun, suamimu perlu jua diperingatkan - agar cermat menjaga kepercayaan itu ibarat kaca yg mudah retak & calar. Sekali tercalar, mungkin selamanya terluka...

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 12 - Imbangilah antara kebergantunganmu kepada suami dgn keupayaanmu untuk berdiri di atas kaki sendiri. Pasrahmu yang total hanyalah kepada yg Maha Agung. Saling bergantung, perlu memerlukan adalah perencah kenikmatan hidup bersama. Jikalau masih sendiri-sendiri, apalah erti hidup sebumbung. Sementara dia masih ada di sisi, kita serahkan kemudi bahtera di tangan suami. Namun jika dia harus pergi, kita akan mampu memikul amanah yg ada, InsyaAllah!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 13 - Dapatkan maklumbalas sejujurnya dari suamimu mengenai akhlak dan tingkahlakumu. Biarkan dia berkata-kata tanpa sebarang gangguan, sekalipun hatimu melonjak-lonjak mahu bersuara membela diri. Mohonlah giliranmu pula memberikannya maklumbalasmu. Pilihlah perkataan terbaik dalam menyusun buah tuturmu. Istiqamah dalam muhasabah, kunci tautan dua hati yg ikhlas mencintai kerana Allah SWT.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 14 - Ubati segera hatimu yang terluka mendengar pengakuan suamimu : cintanya sudah beralih kepada wanita lain. Jgn pantas menyalahkan dirimu, apatah lagi mengalah dan berundur. Jgn pula biarkan cemburu merasuk diri, mengocak ketenangan & membakar amarahmu. Tenanglah dahulu, santuni emosimu yg terhiris pilu. Biarkan airmatamu mengalir buat seketika. Namun yakinlah, sesungguhnya engkau masih belum kehilangan segala-galanya.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 15 -Pilihlah tindakan yang bijak dalam menangani kemelut suamimu mahu atau sudah berkahwin lain. Berikannya peluang menjelaskan keadaan. Dapatkan segera bantuan org tengah yg adil & amanah. Berpandulah kepada akal, melebihi emosimu di saat ini. Jgn biarkan dirimu seratus peratus dipersalahkan,kelemahanmu dikatakan punca suami terpaksa mencari yang lain. Ingatlah, suamimu yang sepenuhnya bertanggungjawab atas pilihan dan tindakannya.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 16 - Hindarkan nada keras, kasar dan lantang apabila berbicara dengan suamimu. Banyakkan mendengar dari bersuara, kerana sesungguhnya Allah melengkapkan manusia dengan sepasang telinga dan hanya satu mulut sahaja. Janganlah ambil kesempatan dari sifat pendiam dan mengalah suamimu. Berikan rasa hormat dan penghargaan yang sebaik-baiknya. Percayalah, anak-anak sedang memerhatikan kemahiran berkomunikasi kalian berdua!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 17 - Serahkan anak-anakmu untuk dijaga sepenuhnya oleh ayah mereka (suamimu) sekali sekala. Yakinlah, mereka akan kelihatan gembira, selamat dan masih bernyawa bila engkau kembali. Hampir pasti, cara suamimu amat berbeza dengan gaya rutin kebiasaanmu. Apalah salahnya membiarkan suamimu mempraktikkan kemahiran kebapaannya. Sebaik manapun engkau sebagai ibu, takkan dapat menjadi seorang bapa terbaik untuk anak-anakmu.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 18 - Hentikan segala kritikan, komen, sungutan dan rungutan terhadap kelemahan dan kekurangan suamimu. Sifat bongkaklah yang menjerumuskan syaitan ke lembah kehinaan dan laknat Allah. Dengan sifat itu jualah syaitan akan merosakkan hubungan perkahwinanmu. Gunakan kaedah penuh hikmah dan merendah diri dalam menegur suamimu. Berikannya peluang dan masa untuk memperbetulkan kesilapan serta ketidakcekapannya selama ini.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 19 - Hiasi kediamanmu penuh kesederhanaan, sekalipun engkau mampu menyalutinya dengan kemewahan. Nyamankan hawa segenap ruangan rumahmu dengan alunan tadarus Al-Quran. Hangatkan kedinginan dengan kemesraan ziarah ukhuwwah tetamu yang datang. Hijaukan halaman dengan pepohon yang segar mengiringi zikirmu. Jadikan ketenangan tema utama yang dikongsi bersama dengan semua yang sudi bertandang.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 20 - Layanlah ahli keluarga suamimu sebagaimana engkau mahu dia melayani keluargamu. Janganlah tunjukkan kebencian dan rasa kurang senang semasa bersama ipar-duaimu. Hindarkan sebarang pertembungan yang memaksa suamimu memilih antara engkau dan keluarganya. Berikanlah hadiah, sambutlah kedatangan mereka ke rumahmu dengan ramah tamah dan senyuman keikhlasan - nescaya keberkatan rezeki melimpah ruah dalam kehidupan.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 21 - Janganlah sesekali putus asa dari rahmat & kasih sayang Allah. Jika suamimu kini bukanlah seorang soleh yg taat pada perintah Tuhannya - sungguh amat besar ujian Allah buatmu. Mohonlah satu dari dua kekuatan - agar kau kuat menghadapi cabaran ini & cukup kuat utk membebaskan diri jika itu pilihan yg terbaik ataupun suamimu diberi kekuatan oleh Allah utk bertaubat nasuha, berubah dan beristiqamah menjadi insan yg jauh lebih baik!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 22 - Lindungi dirimu dan anak-anakmu dari didera secara fizikal, emosional dan seksual oleh suamimu. Allah telah memerintahkan suamimu agar sentiasa berlaku maaruf (baik) terhadapmu. Sebesar manapun silapmu, suamimu tidak berhak menghinamu dengan kekerasan, kekasaran dan keganasan. Jgn malu memohon bantuan keluarga, rakan dan taulan. Sesungguhnya engkau berhak mendapatkan pembelaan dan perlindungan!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 23 - Semaikanlah kecintaan terhadap ilmu pengetahuan, sebaik-baik penyuluh kehidupan dan neraca pertimbangan. Kutiplah mutiara kebijaksanaan di mana jua engkau menemuinya. Jadilah manusia berilmu dan bermaklumat. Buatlah keputusan berasaskan ilmu, hadapi segala cabaran dengan senjata ilmu, pelihara hakmu melalui keteguhan ilmu dan pertahankan hujahmu dengan kubu ilmu.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 24 - Perbaiki mutu komunikasi antara engkau dan suami. Semoga tiada yg terselindung, hingga yang satu pihak lagi hanya bersangka-sangka dan berteka-teki. Sekiranya suamimu makin kasar tingkahnya, mungkin ada terselit kekecewaan di hatinya - hingga keganasan jadi pilihan. Jangan terus-menerus menjadi mangsa penderaan. Hentikan segala kemelut rumahtangga!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 25 - Jangan jemu berbakti kepada keluargamu. Semuanya InsyaAllah, dikira ibadah oleh Allah SWT. Memang kadangkala seperti tiada siapa yg peduli apatah lagi menghargai penat lelah dan payah jerihmu. Bukankah manusia sememangnya pelupa.Namun, kita punya Allah SWT yg tidak pernah terleka, terlalai atau tertidur dari memerhatikan kita!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 26 - Perbanyakkan sedekah kepada ahli keluargamu. Bagi isteri bekerjaya, peruntukkan sebahagian gajimu utk infaq dan perbelanjaan keluarga. Namun, izinkanlah suamimu menyara dirimu, semampunya. Jgn ambil alih tgjwbnya mencari rezeki yg halal buatmu dan keluarga. Mudah2an kehidupanmu sentiasa dalam kecukupan yg barakah....

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 27 - Luahkan keinginanmu untuk dihargai dan disayangi. Khusus bagi yg tidak bekerjaya di luar rumah, keperdulian suami dan anak2 buatmu adalah penyegar tubuh dan emosi yg kepenatan. Jangan terus menjeruk perasaan. Amat wajar untuk engkau nyatakan apa yg terbuku secara terus dan terang. Sesungguhnya, engkau memang berhak disayangi dan dihargai.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 28 - Pastikan solatmu kerap diimami oleh suamimu. Jgn lepaskan peluang utk mengaminkan setiap titipan doanya. Jika suamimu seorang yg tersangkut hatinya di masjid/surau - sesekali, mohonlah hakmu untuk dipimpin dalam solatmu. Namun jika suamimu seorg yg sengaja engkar dan berani meninggalkan solatnya - jgnlah jemu memperingatkan tugas utamanya sbg abdi Allah yg Maha Besar kekuasaan-Nya!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 29 - Jangan berdendam terhdp perbuatan silap suamimu yg silam. Cubalah memaafkan dan hilangkan amarah di dada. Engkau mungkin sukar utk melupakan, namun engkau ada pilihan sama ada mahu memaafkan atau sebaliknya. Jgn biarkan api membakar sekam, nanti yg tinggal hanyalah abu dan arang.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 30 - Carilah seorang sahabat setia yg boleh berkongsi kesedihanmu, namun cukup amanah utk menjaga segala keaibanmu. InsyaAllah, engkau tidak akan sukar mencari sahabat sebegitu, jika engkau sendiri sentiasa menjalankan tgjwb seorang sahabat sejati kpd org lain. Jgn cuba dipendam-pendam, disorok dan dijeruk perasaan yg luka....bimbang kelak tak tertanggung lagi.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 31 - Ingatlah bhw engkau umpama pakaian (libasa) bagi suamimu dan dia pula pakaian bagimu ( Al-Quran-AlBaqarah : 187). Bertindaklah yang molek agar suami boleh berbangga dengan setiap lakumu. Peringatkan jua suamimu agar dia memperelokkan setiap tingkahnya, kerana engkau jua ingin tumpang bangga dengannya.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 32 - Pertingkatkan komitmen keluargamu utk mempraktikkan cara hidup Islam yg syumul. Peliharalah solat, jgn sekali abaikan perintah Allah. Didik anak2mu utk mematuhi suruhan Allah. Moga2 keluargamu terbimbing menjadi keluarga sakinah.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI - Nota 33 : Ikhlaskan setiap detik yg telah, sedang dan akan dihabiskan bersama suamimu. Ganjaran segala pengorbanan & susah payahmu bukannya datang dari suamimu, melainkan hanyalah daripada Allah SWT semata-mata.
TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI - Nota 34 : Sentiasalah saling nasihat-menasihati. Bagi sebahagian isteri, menasihati suami mungkin sesuatu tugas yg hampir mustahil. Namun, kita tidak boleh berhenti berusaha, berikhtiar dan mencuba. Mulakan dgn meminta nasihat dari suamimu terlebih dahulu. Timbang-tara segala nasihatnya. Perbaiki mana yg kurang, tampung mana yg bocor. InsyaAllah, tak lama lagi, suamimu akan meminta dinasihati pula, InsyaAllah!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 35 : Peringatkanlah suamimu akan pesanan ayat ke6 Surah At-Tahrim - di mana dia diperintahkan Allah untuk memelihara dirinya dan dirimu serta anak2 dari azab api neraka! Besar sungguh tanggungjawab yg dipikulnya! Engkau dan anak2 tidak akan menanggung dosanya, namun kemungkaranmu dan anak2 akan ditanggungkan ke atas bahunya! Cukuplah pesanan itu menjadi peringatan!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 36 - Mulakan nasihat buat suamimu dengan niat tulus, mulus dan penuh keikhlasan. Buang jauh2 rasa megah, bangga diri dan lebih hebat, kerana perasaan itu nanti akan mempengaruhi pilihan ayat, gerak badan dan ekspresi muka semasa mula bertutur. Bijaklah mencari masa yg sesuai dan santai. Bersedia utk mendengar jawapan balas dan alasannya dgn tenang. Jika suasana menjadi tegang, berundurlah buat seketika - esok lusa, kita akan terus mencuba!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 37 - Peliharalah baik-baik hatimu dari dihinggapi penyakit mazmumah - takabbur dan bangga diri. Sesungguhnya, itulah racun senjata utama syaitan laknatullah merosakkan anak Adam. Sekiranya suami isteri dihinggapi perasaan ini, retak akhirnya membawa belah. Bila sahaja terasa diri lebih hebat dari suami, beristighfarlah & pohonlah perlindungan Allah. Jika engkau mampu mengatasinya, paling tidak, engkau hanya perlu berdepan dengan keegoan suamimu sahaja. Jangan jadi mangsa mudah syaitan yg menunggu2 peluang memporak-perandakan rumahtangga yg dibina!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 38 - Hiasilah wajahmu dengan senyuman manis diukir ikhlas dari hati, setiap kali engkau berhadapan dengan suamimu. Mengukir senyuman jauh lebih mudah dari mengerutkan dahimu atau membiarkan wajahmu masam mencuka. Kuntumkan senyuman sepanjang perbualan telefon bersama suamimu. Nescaya suamimu akan lebih mudah menghadiahkan senyumannya pula buatmu!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 39 - Keraplah menghantar suamimu di muka pintu, tika dia keluar bekerja (bagi sesiapa yang berkesempatan). Doakan kesejahteraannya, moga hari ini terlindung dia dari kejahatan dan penyelewengan. Moga terpelihara segala ibadah khususnya. Mudah-mudahan, petang nanti, kita akan dipertemukan lagi dalam suasana iman yang bertambah & kasih sayang yang melimpah ruah.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 40 - Jadilah teman karib suamimu - yang sudi berkongsi suka dan duka bersama. Fahamilah kebimbangan dan kerisauannya, memastikan diri dan ahli keluarganya terlindung dari api neraka sebagaimana diperintahkan Allah dalam Surah AtTahrim, ayat ke6. Jika jelas terbukti dia terlupa perintah tersebut, peringatkanlah. Semoga ketaqwaan terus menjadi bekalan.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 41 - Hentikanlah tindakan saling sakit-menyakiti hati dan perasaan antara dikau dan suami. Jangan diikut emosi marah, geram, dendam dan kecewa. Selepas berbalah dan bersengketa, secara jujur tanyakanlah hati kecilmu : Bahagiakah rasa bila hati bagai disimbah cuka? Sampai bila mahu begini? Belum tibakah masa utk bermaafan seikhlas-ikhlasnya? Jawapan hanya ada pada dirimu.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 42 - Zahirkan perasaan hormat dan sayang antara dikau berdua di depan anak2. Pastikan mereka dapat melihat contoh terbaik hubungan suami isteri dari interaksi dikau dan suamimu. Selagi mana anak2 dapat melihat penzahiran cinta kasih antara ibu dan bapanya, selama itulah jua perasaan tenteram dan selamat akan menyelubungi mereka.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 43 - Masih ingatkah lagi dengan cita-cita mulia di awal perkahwinan dulu - mahu bersama menempuh bahagia di DUNIA dan AKHIRAT ? Mengapa sekarang, sering sengketa dan berbalah - seolah2 mahu menempa derita di DUNIA, yg mungkin membawa ke neraka AKHIRAT? Cukup-cukuplah menyakiti satu sama lain. Umur yang berbaki entah tinggal esok lusa. Ayuh, mari segera kita bertaubat nasuha, sementara masih ada modal masa.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 44 - Curilah hati suamimu dengan keikhlasan mencintainya semata-mata kerana Allah SWT. Nur ikhlas itu akan menyerikan wajahmu & mengukir keindahan yg takkan luntur dimakan zaman. Ikhlas menjadi benteng menepis tipu daya syaitan yg datang dari segenap penjuru. Tiada `udang di sebalik batu'. Kejujuran menjadi hasil tuaian yg bakal dinikmati bersama, InsyaAllah.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 45 - Belajarlah utk menangani kepelbagaian. Raikanlah kepelbagaian sebagai satu petanda keagungan Allah SWT, bukannya satu liabiliti yg menjadi titik sengketa antara kita suami isteri. Jangan sesekali cuba memaksa suami menyukai segala yg dikau berkenan dan membenci segala yg engkau sisihkan. Begitu jua dgn sidia, yg tidak seharusnya menuntut agar engkau menjadi manusia yg lain semata2 utk memenuhi kehendaknya.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 46 - Ingatlah, usia kita suami isteri semakin merangkak dewasa, menunju ke ufuk senja akhirnya. Wajarlah, kematangan dan kebijaksanaan semakin menyerlah, menggantikan ketangkasan fizikal dan kemudaan wajah yg semakin pudar. Isilah sisa masa yg ada sebaiknya, jgn dipersiakan begitu sahaja. Semoga setiap detik yg dijalani bersama, menjadi modal utama utk meraih redha Allah SWT.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 47 - Berhentilah berdendam dengan suamimu, disebabkan kesilapannya yang lalu. Elakkan mengungkit perkara lepas yang sudah terkubur menjadi sejarah. Belajarlah memaafkan dan berilah peluang kedua. Retak hatimu mungkin akan nampak bekasnya sampai bila2 - namun jadilah manusia yang berjiwa besar dan mulia. Sudah sudahlah saling sakit-menyakiti. Demi kesejahteraan fizikal, minda, emosi dan spiritualmu - lepaskanlah amarahmu!

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 48 - Kongsikanlah rezeki pendapatan bulananmu dgn bijaksana demi sebuah keluarga yg lebih sejahtera. Izinkan suamimu menyara semampu yg terdaya, menyediakan makan minum seharian dan rumah tempat berteduh. Sumbangkan sedekahmu buat menampung dana pendidikan anak2, tabung kecemasan, sedikit keselesaan dan rekreasi. Janganlah boros dalam bermewah-mewah, namun elakkanlah sifat kedekut dan kebakhilan. Amalkan syura dlm setiap urusan, InsyaAllah barakah mengiringi setiap keikhlasan.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 49 - Ketahuilah bahasa cinta milikmu dan juga suamimu. Pilih satu yang paling bermakna - kata-kata, pemberian hadiah, masa berkualiti, khidmat bakti atau sentuhan fizikal. Tunjukkan kasih sayang melalui perantaraan bahasa cintanya, agar hubungan lebih mendalam dan bermakna. Dedahkanlah bahasa cintamu kepada suamimu, moga ekspresi cintanya mampu mengisi takungan emosimu yg sudah semakin kekeringan.

TALIAN HAYAT BUAT ISTERI : Nota 50 - Ketahuilah lima bahasa maaf ( Five Languages of Apology)- Dr Gary Chapman - dan berbahasalah dgn kelima2nya sepanjang masa. 1.Nyatakan dengan jelas : Saya mohon maaf. 2.Mengakulah kesilapanmu : Saya memang bersalah. 3.Gunakan bahasa cinta kegemarannya sebagai tebusan - Terimalah tanda maaf dariku 4.Buktikan kejujuran meminta maaf - Saya benar2 menyesal 5.Azam tidak akan mengulangi - Saya janji tak buat lagi! Dapatkanlah kemaafan dari pasanganmu, sekiranya engkau mahu melangkah setapak lagi ke hadapan dalam hubunganmu.

Loves,
Dr. Har

Unquote.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Sette Cama

Last Saturday, Khedija, Ana, hubby & myself continued with our pursuance of boating captain qualificaition by making those required trips to Sette Cama. It is about  1 hour or more by boat ( I stopped looking at my watch after awhile). Each of us takes turn to drive the boat to Sette Cama although we left most of the parking stuff to my hubby. Admittedly had he not been around, I would have been tempted to try more parking work but I don't want to give him any excuse to comment on mine. It's pride being in question here.

Unfortunately nothing significant happened during the drive to and fro. Although Dave, our very kind instructor, thought he might have seen a manatee/dugong surfacing but then I guess all animals were very shy that day. Not a single crocodile, hippo or any form of wild animals cross our sights/path. We did hear some monkey sounds but it was just sound, the monkey form did not materialise. So I am still counting on a hippo encounter one day, I hope.

It was raining when we started from the Ndogo station, I was the captain and the first driver. It was very extremely difficult to drive with rain on your face. It felt like stone pebbles hitting your faces - I am sure I had scars from that day. Visibility was difficult, in fact if I were ever to drive by myself, I am pretty sure the company would have to launch a search & rescue operation to locate where my boat is. I cannot read a map , or a GPS or a compass even if my life depended on it.

We also had the opportunity to climb the treehouse where BBC did there filming on Gabon. Although I couldn't imagine what they'd saw. We saw only trees, lakes and more trees while we were up there. So I don't think I can have a career with National Geographic. Not imaginative enough.

We arrived safely and soundly back home in Yenzi by 5pm. Alhamdulillah. After this, I still have to another 2 more trips to Sette Cama before I can be qualified as aye aye Captain my Captain. Oh dear, wish me success, insya-Allah.

Till then, life continues on.

New Year, New Hope, New Challenges

It has certainly been awhile since I left this side of me. The writing side. Plenty has happened during the last few months. Both good and unfortunately certain disappointment still lingers on.

Many have left Gamba since last July. Starting my closest partners in crime with Kak Ju off to Point Noire in Congo, Rahma back to Senegal and Kak Nisa off to Kazaksthan (although she is residing in Msia for the moment till Amira finishes off her O-Level).

From the camp, many of those senior families have left as well. My neighbours, the Chen's and Germonda & her 3 lovely angels have left for new adventures back home. So the composition in camp is changing, there are new people coming in as although the saying is "Patah tumbuh, hilang berganti". Those that comes is never really the same as those that goes. Maybe it is meant to be so.

This is our 2nd year here and I am guilty to admit that I feel no  happier than when we first came. Things have become more settled, our house is more or less beautified and made homely. Garden is full of flowers but not yet vegetable because our jadinier, Daniel gives so many many excuses not to plant any vege. To give him credit, he is good with flowers but useless with vegetable gardening. We are trying to get another gardener to handle the vege. We'll see how that goes.

Children are doing wonderful in school .. at least it's a consolation that some of us are happy. On a sad note, Hasanah day's in Ecole Yenzi are over. She has enrolled in International Islamic School in Gombak to continue her secondary education. I am happy that she seems excited with that new phase of her life. I am not as oblivious to not aknowledge gratitude of how Ecole Yenzi has shaped her thinking and confidence to the wonderful young woman that she is. Syukur. She is here now on her long holiday and is due back to Malaysia soon in February. I know that will only add on the the sadness that I feel for being here.

Wajdi is coping well with P0. Andrew is great teacher - he has to be when he has to handle all 12 children aged 4 and 5 years old singlehandedly for 5 days aweek. That must be exhausting! Aliyah & Afifah have moved up their classes as well. Afifah's English is getting better each day and happy to be reporting that she is now reading a whole series of Roald Dahl's book. Something I'd never imagine that she'll do had we stayed on in Miri. So yes yes.... there are always silver or gold lining somewhere at the end of the rainbow. But it doesn't make it any less harder. I am only human.

Okay, this is update for now. Till then, insya-Allah.