Is there a need for a grand celebration for a new year when life itself is a manifestation of Grandness?

never intended to write anythin to sum up this year, but since there's some time to kill, perhaps a lil reminiscence of  2008 & a lil outlook for 2009 might serve as a good reminder for me. usually people start resolutions & clean new sheets of deeds at the beginnin of the year but for me, it's juz carryin on forward with life, with more opportunities & more challenges ahead.

2008 has been rather lovely with the highlight bein the boyfriend of 12 years surprisin me with his Magic Show right in front of our former Secondary School on my birthday & in August, our families were formally introduced & that lead to our joyous engagement in October. Couldn't believe and couldn't be more thankful for tis move forward & insya Allah, we shall progress a step further in 2009.

still, life ain't always dandy & i realise much moments of 2008, go by spontaneously and played by ear. i'm really thankful for those who have let me in & are always pourin me with much of their love & support even though i haven't been the most active social person/friend/family member around. despite so, there are also those who have become distant but i guess, it's not unusual that when interest & priorities takes a change of course, there are tendencies that people who are once close, grow apart, but although hardly we do keep in touch, i have always had whom i call friends/family, no matter where and how they have become, close to my heart & constantly pray for their good well-being. i've come to realise how not easy it is to play the role of in-betweens & that there are certain things i have to forgo & accept, in which redha seems to be the most precious lesson i have learnt tis year. and to continue dealin with my inner struggles with much reliance of precious hope & enduring patience with much of God's guiding light. 

age seems to be catchin up these days & i haven't been the fittest of person too tis year. gone are the glorious days of me doin high kicks in fitness class, or contortin myself in yoga poses or prancin away with children or even shimmyin to the lures of the drums/tabla. 2008 is very sedentary, with me breakin my record for takin the MCs, either to rest or recover. as a new friend said " u are now glorified" when i said my glory days are over. hah indeed, with more white hairs sproutin as my mum flipped thru my hair.ooh but i managed to cover 5km for my SHAPE run in july! ok, that's pretty much the Only healthy achievement i made tis year. heh nevertheless.

well here i come today with unfulfilled responsibilities & hopes & perhaps a lifetime of dreams. may many more days ahead for tis life, be smooth & swell with abundance of Divine love, forgiveness & guidance as i continue rockin on (may be mellow but never faint) in 1430H/2009! and the same goes for u too!

Cheers~

 

15.12.08-22.12.08: Bonding in Beijing

Never mind that we cannot see the Pyramids, but Great Wall here we come!
Am majorly impressed with Beijing's cleanliness & landscapes.
Simply Majestic!

to the friends i made durin the trip, thank u for a wonderful time spent together...pls feel free to grab any of the photos available here!

Accidental Heartburn/Hyperacidity Remedy

Had tis stingin pain in my sternum tis mornin & i knew it will worsen by the hour as the acid will keep on buildin up. I knew the culprit that caused me tis pain is that glass of Rose Juliet latte I had last nite. After glasses of warm water and staggered poppin of abt 3 antacids, the feeling was quite contained until right after my lunch of Chicken Chop. The pain was far worse and i didn't have with me the antacids! Headed to the supermarket and I reached out for a can of Coconut Juice to wash down my food & hopefully relief my pain.

I juz can't wait to get back to my locker and chew on those antacid when i realised few minutes after i finished my can of Coconut Juice, the aweful pain was GONE! Poof! Totally!

Coconut Juice is alot more Effective than antacids! Checked out some sites and it IS actually a recommended home remedy! DOH!


From
http://www.emersonhwc.com/factfile_show.php?StoryId=242
"Coconut water is the liquid fuel (endosperm) for the young coconut seed. As the coconut matures, the water is absorbed into the flesh. Coconut water is an amazing source of nutrition because it is alkaline and high in potassium and other minerals. In fact the pH of coconut water is so close to the pH of blood that it can (and has been) used as an intravenous fluid for rehydration."

From
http://www.ayushveda.com/magazine/remedies-for-gastric-problems/
"Coconut water is an excellent remedy for gastritis.  It gives the stomach the necessary rest and provides vitamins and minerals.  The stomach can be returned to a normal condition if nothing but coconut water is given during the first twenty-four hours."

So i noe now next time i get hyperacidity/heartburn attack, i dun have to head down to the nearest pharmacy n chew on those chalky tasting things anymore!

"He it is Who sends down water (rain) from the sky; from it you drink and from it (grows) the vegetation on which you send your cattle to pasture. With it He causes to grow for you the crops, the olives, the date-palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit. Verily! In this is indeed an evident proof and a manifest sign for people who give thought(reflect)." [Surah An Nahl:10-11]

Such is a wonder God's provision...Subhanallah!

Lessons of Redha on Eidul Adha

Commerating the deeds of the Prophet Abraham a.s., his son's, Ishmael a.s. & his wife's, Hagar & completing the Hajj,are some of the things that urge us to remind ourselves on the acts of Sacrifice on Eidul Adha. Tis year, as i observe the situations that my loved ones have to face, Sacrifices hold more significance than juz rememberin deeds. No mother wants to face a child's death, no child wants to be left behind by their parents or no son wants to bear his father's financial woes but if so is how God wills, such will happen and no way we can run away from such circumstances but to face them head on, letting go of what is precious/dear to them=sacrifice. I realise how very badly these situations can be received/perceived as one's comfort zone is torn apart and all one is left with is that feeling of nothin but vulnerability/helplessness that naturally tend to make people feeling frustrated, irritated or resentful towards all that happened to them & it is really hard to accept the truth.

The best Solution to remain strong in such circumstances is indeed by being Patient & what is most important in that process is the act of Redha. Every day it gets to me how Very important that act is...submitting to God's will & to actually put ur whole Trust in the Lord to bring one out of the rut really takes some guts & a whole bunch of Faith & much Waiting (usually things dun turn OK overnite!) but of course we have to take lil brave baby steps forward too (yeaps we still gotta put in efforts). I pray that for every difficult situation my loved ones & i face, let our actions be guided by the Lord & may we always be showered with Blessings for us to emerge as stronger Believers.

Yesterday was the first time I did the Qurban, slaughtering a Lamb/Sheep as a symbolic move of Sacrifice. It was upon my mum's request that I did it and I was actually quite reluctant to take a life of another being. But i realise, tis is one of God's order for the Prophet Abraham a.s. & he did it without resenting/arguing & i have to remind myself that God Knows Better. So i resolved, redha & chose the sheep which was within my reach, i thanked the sheep while it was in its quarantine area. When it is time for it to be slaughtered, again i touched the sheep & i said to it in my heart: Lillahi Ta'ala (for God) followed by a bunch of istighfar. As though it understood, the sheep did not struggle except a lil when its jugular veins were cut off. It was as though it knew its role there & it submitted to the fate that God has decided for it. I was partly sad, partly relieved & partly touched seein the sheep that way & i could only thank God for a life Not tortured during its slaughter & that probably tis is one lesson that my Rabb is teaching me. 

Masya Allah!
Alhamdulillah!
Allahu Akbar!

To my friends whose parents/family are right now in Arafah, may they have Haji Mabrur & to my fellow Muslims, i guess it is still not too late to wish u Salam Eidul Adha...may all the sacrifices that u make in ur lives be blessed by Allah!




   

that badminton racquet Abah left behind...is now left behind by u...

Tonite i was shocked by a news that my 2nd oldest cuzzin passed away. Way unexpected, way too sudden but tis is what God wills...perhaps, a wake-up call for us that death is never too far for anyone at any age.

May my late cuzzin, Daud Bin Sulaiman, rest in peace & he be among those whose soul God showers with Blessings...& may God give his family & Mum especially, perseverance & strength to overcome their loss of such a warm loved one...Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji'un

To all my other cuzzins, I  You...((hugs))

 

The Weather

Cold & Chilly season is back...it is really bad for my tummy. Noe why? cos i will start cravin for food! two days ago, no Ben & Jerry's, Bakerzin, Gelare or even P.S.Cafe can save me from my craving. To hell with all that Western delights cos all that was on my mind was ROTI SAMBAL SARDIN & PAU SAMBAL & PISANG GORENG with TEH TARIK! and the first place i thought of was the good ol cosy LABRADOR HAWKER CENTRE! but of course, there is NO MORE labrador hawker centre to fulfill my desire...where in the world can i get such MELAYU LEPAK food without the need to travel to the Eastern side of SIngapore at 6.30pm??

thankfully my brain is quick enuff to think of that one & only  TRAIN STATION in Singapore which ironically belongs to MALAYSIA. So zoom from the MRT to KTM!!

 

i got myself all 3 foods that i crave! with all those extra crumbs for the Pisang Goreng!

with an additional Sop Kentang Ball for a lil warm soupy soup to slurp...

and OF COURSE, the TEH TARIK lah!!

Ho sey...SHIOKKK la Dey!!
*burp*
and emm ALHAMDULILLAH....