Your dad did what?

Where they have been, if they have been away,
or what they've done at home, if they have not -
you make them write about the holiday.
One writes My Dad did. What? Your Dad did what?


That's not a sentence. Never mind the bell.
We stay behind until the work is done.
You count their words (you who can count and spell);
all the assignments are complete bar one


and though this boy seems bright, that one is his.
He says he's finished, doesn't want to add anything,
hands it in just as it is. No change. My Dad did.
What? What did his Dad?


You find the 'E' you gave him as you sort
through reams of what this girl did, what that lad did,
and read the line again, just one 'e' short:
This holiday was horrible. My Dad did.

by Sophie Hannah

Takziah

Takziah atas kemangkatan Baginda Sultan Johor, terutamanya pada Ku Muna, semua kerabat diRaja Johor, dan rakyat Johor amnya.
Semoga roh almarhum Baginda dicucuri rahmatNya.
AlFatihah.

The pros and cons

Today's walk of several kilometres
should have burnt the calories
of yesterday, yesterday, and yesterday.
Until I stopped at the Pasar Malam.
-Chahya-


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More on Sophie Hannah!

THE PROS AND CONS.

He’ll be pleased if I phone to ask him how he is.
It will make me look considerate and he likes considerate people.
He’ll be reassured to see that I haven’t lost interest,
Which might make him happy and then I’ll have done him a favour.

If I phone him right now I’ll get to speak to him sooner
Than I will if I sit around waiting for him to phone me.
He might not want to phone me from work in case someone hears
And begins (or continues) to suspect that there’s something
Between us.

If I want to and don’t, aren’t I being a bit immature?
We’re both adults.
Does it matter, with adults, who makes the first move?

But there’s always the chance he’ll back off if I come on too strong.
The less keen I appear, the more keen he’s likely to be,
And I phoned him twice on Thursday and once on Friday.

He must therefore be fully aware that it’s his turn, not mine.
If I make it too easy for him, he’ll assume I’m too easy,
While if I make no effort, that leaves him with more of a challenge.

I should demonstrate that I have a sense of proportion.
His work must come first for a while and I shouldn’t’ mind waiting.
For all I know he could have gone off me already
And if I don’t phone I can always say, later, that I went off him first.

by Sophie Hannah

Leaving and leaving you

* another poem by my fav. poet

When I leave you postcode and your commuting station,
When I left undone all the things we planned to do
You may feel you have been left by association
But there is leaving and leaving you.

When I leave your town and the club that you belong to,
When I leave without much warning or much regret,
Remember, there's doing wrong and there's doing wrong toYou,
which I'll never do and I haven't yet,

And when I have gone, remember that in weighing
Everything up, from love to a cheaper rent,
You were all the reasons I thought of staying,
And none of the reasons why I went

And although I leave your sight and I leave your setting,
And our separation is soon to be a fact,
Though you stand beside what I'm leaving and forgetting,
I'm not leaving you, not if motive makes the act.

by Sophie Hannah

Symptoms

Although you have given me a stomach upset,
Weak knees, a lurching heart, a fuzzy brain,
A high-pitched laugh, a monumental phone bill,
A feeling of unworthiness, sharp pain
When you are somewhere else, a guilty conscience,
A longing, and a dread of what’s in store,
A pulse rate for the Guinness Book of Records -Life now is better than it was before.

Although you have given me a raging temper,
Insomnia, a rising sense of panic,
A hopeless challenge, bouts of introspection,
Raw, bitten nails, a voice that’s strangely manic,
A selfish streak, a fear of isolation,
A silly smile, lips that are chapped and sore,
A running joke, a risk, an inspiration –Life now is better than it was before.

Although you have given me a premonition,
Chattering teeth, a goal, a lot to lose,
A granted wish, mixed motives, superstitions,
Hang-ups and headaches, fear of awful news,
A bubble in my throat, a dare to swallow,
A crack of light under a closing door,
The crude, fantastic prospect of forever –Life now is better than it was before.

by Sophie Hannah

*Sophie Hannah is one of my favourite poets

Bye 2009, Welcome 2010.

Pheww...time really flies!

A lot of things have happened in 2009. I'm not gonna write about that tremendous climate change, how Obama had performed, the global economic crises, the power transition in Japan, or our very much blogged about political scenarios.

All I wanna jot down in this stolen moments is about some of my own miniscule accomplishments, so perhaps when I read it some time later in years to come I could see how far I've gone, be a little more inspired maybe.

Apart from all the work that tax my time tremendously in 2009 like the work presented for both national and international conferences and seminars, papers published, surveys done, chapters completed, and all this done while maintaining my CGPA of 3.90 and facing some challenges, I embarked on a journey of learning how to read the Quran correctly. Of all the things accomplished, I felt my greatest achievement is being able to complete reading it concurrently both in its Arabic version, as well as reading it in the language that allows meaning and understanding sink deep in my heart: its Malay translation.

After maghrib on 23 December I managed to finished reading it to the end. I fast the next day, as it is sunat to fast when one khatam al-Quran. As my eldest who recently got 5As in UPSR also managed to khatam al-Quran on 24 Dec, then I planned for 25 December, Friday - a good day- another sunat practice, which is a small gathering of friends and relatives to become witnesses that both me and my daughter have finished reading the holy Quran. The majlis khatam Quran began not long after I came back home after sending a number of pre-packed pulut kuning to an orphanage nearby. I found out there was an addition to the community there since my last visit in the middle of 2009 - a single mother with her baby. If you'd like to know the orphanages near your place, you can look at the link I've put up for quite some time in my blog under the title rumah anak yatim.

Often I've prayed, fervently hoping for petunjuk in times of need, uncertainty, and challenges.

I've heard many times my friend F talks about she hopes Allah gives her petunjuk. And I'm sure, L also cries asking for petunjuk in her prayers.

What were we thinking?!

My dear friends, the petunjuk is in front of us: the Quran.

There are many of Allah's words in the Quran, which He stresses this. I can't remember all, but this is one of them: "Al-Quran ini merupakan pedoman bagi manusia, juga petunjuk dan rahmat bagi orang yang meyakininya." (Surah al-Jaatsiyah: 20).

I began reading it to satisfy my own curiosity and not just taking it from other people's mouth, to seek for answers for things that I often wondered, things that happened which I couldn't fathom why.

My friends F & L, I'm sure you have khatam the Quran very very much earlier than me - some others khatam during childhood, but I also suspect that many of us have been reading it in its Arabic version, which one could understand perhaps a few more words or lines than me. I'd like to suggest, if I may, that you come back to it and and reread it together with its translation.

I'm grateful that God has been most kind to me - He pulls me away from things that have no value to me even when I didnt understand when they happened or didnt happened at first, showers me with accomplishments, grants better rezeki, and sparks up a lot of great ideas and opportunities. Most importantly, I should bow to Him for giving the 'spark', opening my heart and making me bring the Quran in front of me to find out and understand what's in it. It makes me happy that my name is written there in Luh Mahfuz, as one who has accomplished reading the Quran before her life is taken out of her. How could I not feel blessed, when I also know that if not because of His rahmat, I wouldnt touch to read it or even understand what's written in it, just like many others who claimed themselves Muslim but had returned to the Creator without having tried to read His Quran. Allah's first Quranic revelation is an advice for us to read: Iqra' (read) bismirabbikallaziikhalaq (in the name of your God who created) - surah al-'Alaq:1.

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"Inilah al-Quran sebagai petunjuk; orang-orang yang engkar kepada ayat-ayat Tuhan mereka akan mendapat azab pedih dan menyakitkan." (al-Jaatsiyah: 11).

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"Sesungguhnya al-Quran itu bacaan yang sangat mulia. Pada kitab yang terpelihara (Luh Mahfuz), tidak dapat menyentuhnya kecuali mereka yang disucikan. Yang turun dari Tuhan seluruh alam. Apakah kamu masih menganggap remeh terhadap al-Quran ini?" (Surah al-Waaqi'ah: 77-81).

On this first day of 2010, a Friday, I wish Happy New Year to all and I hope to get more of His blessings, compassion and love. If only we know the future...but then again, do I really want to know?
Hopefully in 2010 life is better for each of us.
See in a year's time if I could accomplish these visions, and more.

Accomplished tasks, winning moves and actions

Read, research, & collaborate more

Share and deliver, deliver, deliver..

Speak with enthusiasm, capture attention and understanding

Write, document, express more

Graduate with flying colours, a valedictorian maybe? :P

Give and get lotsa, lotsa luvsssss. New and renewed relationships.

Better working environment and position

Raised salary...owh*

Money came out of computer? Hmm...not impossible..

Perform umrah. Maybe hajj too?

House looks and feels better to stay in

A brand new CRV to drive in comfort

Essentially bow to Him more and pray that He loves me more & more...

and never ever leave this even for a day...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 friends...
We can change the world...our world...in every wee bits and ways :)

"Wahai orang yang beriman, jangan sampai suatu kelompok memperolok-olokkan kelompok yang lain; mungkin yang diperolok-olokkan itu lebih baik daripada yang memperolok" (al-Hujuraat: 11)

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"Dan demi sesungguhnya, Kami telah mencipta manusia dan Kami sedia mengetahui apa yang dibisikkan oleh hatinya, sedang (pengetahuan) Kami lebih dekat kepadanya daripada urat lehernya, semasa dua malaikat (yang mengawal dan menjaganya) menerima dan menulis segala perkataan dan perbuatannya; yang satu duduk di sebelah kanannya, dan yang satu lagi di sebelah kirinya. Tidak ada sebarang perkataan yang dilafazkannya (atau perbuatan yang dilakukannya) melainkan ada di sisinya malaikat pengawas yang sentiasa sedia (menerima dan menulisnya)." (Qaaf: 16-18)

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"Tanda yang menunjukkan mereka (sebagai orang-orang yang soleh) terdapat muka mereka - dari kesan sujud (dan ibadat mereka yang ikhlas)." (al-Fath:29)

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"Sesungguhnya Tuhanmu, Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang yang sesat dari jalanNya, dan Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang yang mendapat hidayah petunjuk. " (an-Najm: 30)

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"Maka janganlah kamu berlagak suci. Dialah lebih mengetahui sesiapa yang bertakwa kepada-Nya." (an-Najm: 32).

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"Kamu masih saja mentertawakan dan tidak menangis menginsafinya? Apakah kamu masih meremehkannya? Maka sujudlah dan sembahlah Allah." (an-Najm:60-62)

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"Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, takutlah kamu kepada Allah dan berimanlah kepada Rasul-Nya, maka Dia akan memberimu dua kali rahmat-Nya, dan Dia akan memberi kamu cahaya yang dapat kamu pergunakan dalam perjalanan dan mengampunimu. Allah Maha Pengampun lagi Maha Penyayang. Agar ahli Kitab tahu bahawa mereka sedikit pun tidak berkuasa menghalangi kurnia Allah, dan sesungguhnya kurnia-Nya terletak dalam kekuasaan Allah yang diberikan kepada sesiapa yang Dia berkenan. Dan Allah jualah yang mempunyai limpah kurnia yang besar." (al-Hadiid: 28-29)

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References:

Al-Quran terjemahan Ustaz Mahadi & Ustaz Azharuddin, semakan Dr. Muhammad Uthman El-Muhammady

Terjemahan al-Quran by Global Islamic Software Co, GISCO, retrieved from http://www.iiu.edu.my/deed/quran/malay/

Growing up fast...

This may look like I'm having my annual hair-do, but no, the lady on the chair is my daughter. A Cut Ab*ve is quite far to go, so we decided to try Thomas & G*ys. Both of us are satisfied with the results. Great, no more messy hair days for her.


This lady so piously praying is my youngest girl, in a few days time she'll be 7. Photo captured at my parents' house. She gave her favourite cousin a pink dress, which Sarah proudly poses in (pic. below).



Both of my children are growing fast...Wasn't it just yesterday that they are still babies cuddled in my arms, so delicate and helpless, wailing only for my attention?



Pic.
Both of them playing kite at Kemasek Beach, Terengganu.

Caramel pudding

cooking time = 30 mins
recipe based on 6+3+2+1 formula, easy to remember.

For my recipe click here.

Visions came true...

Alhamdulillah. My daughter's results are as envisioned in my previous post.

I was so happy I cried, but my daughter told my siblings "Dora OK je dapat result, but mama pula yang nangis-nangis". She didn't understand that I felt God has been kind to me, and those tears were of happiness and gratitude.

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Alhamdulillah too for having another work being published by a university publisher.

I had hoped to meet Emila Yusof the artist whose creativity and talent I admired and wished to have. I first stumbled upon her on Oldstock's space, and had linked to her ever since. I had previously read Mamasita's post on Pahang art exhibition, with Pak Yusof Gajah in it, and wondering if I'd ever meet him in person. These hopes came true too.

Pic. Linda Tan Lingard, Emila Yusof, yours truly, Mama Gajah (Pak Yusof's wife), Sarah Joan Mokhtar.

Pic. Yusof Gajah. As usual, the pair of eyes belongs to me.

Pic. One of Emila's work that I like. I have yet to ask her what inspire her to draw this. The drawing is meaningful to me.

Pic. I bought calendars by Emila, and she signed mine and for my children's.

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My daughter's results called for a majlis kesyukuran, with Yasiin recital, and doas. Thank you all for your good wishes.

Pic. Pasta and carbonara sauce, home cooked by Chahya. (for my recipe, click here)
Pic. What's left of laksa, kuih-muihs, fries, pasta, for the guests. My pasta and carbonara sauce sold out!

5As