The story is over...

“A book is a gift you can open again and again…” - Garrison Keillor

(Let us grow old together)

Years turn the pages; the book remains.

No one can see the life it contains.

The story is over; it sits on a shelf

Outside of time, complete in itself.

Ah! Could we know! But never we will.

Now it is sealed, silent and still.

© by Nick Gordon

The Silk Road, Uzbekistan...

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware...” – Martin Buber

I have updated my Uzbekistan winter holiday in my travel blog.

Samar & Qand...

“There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open...”

'Forbidden Love

'

The angst of love most would forbid
mute sufferings, searing deep
the daily grind we face we weep
honest to the heart weary to the feet

Questions keep coming, will they not stop
millions of answers none will drop
each for the moment each for what's not
reasons come by to choose and to sort

It's not the answers we seek we know
nor the solutions that will be there tomorrow
it's being true to the heart that seeps us out
for the one we love, what it's all about

(Nick Jagger)

My Overseas Travel: munmus.blogspot.com

The traveled man...

SOMETIMES I wish the railroads all were torn out,
The ships all sunk among the coral strands.
I am so very weary, yea, so worn out,
With tales of those who visit foreign lands...

Yet, here we are again, excited like school kids, preparing our back-packs for our next journey. And this time the two of us are off to Uzbekistan for a whole week. This trip is going to be our last holiday for the year and this trip is also commemorating our 30th anniversary. Honeymoon lagi!

It is winter and snowing in Uzbek. The chilly weather will probably freeze the blood in our veins. Hopefully, it will not freeze these two wondering hearts…

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Sara & Fitri engagement day...

“A good relationship is where both people feel like they're getting the better end of the deal.."

(Signage at the Reception Hall)

Today was a special day for my daughter Sara. It was a special occasion too for me and dear hubby, as we look forward to marrying off our one and only daughter to someone she loves.

The engagement ceremony was held at Hotel Singgahsana in PJ and attended by close family and friends.

 

(Pelamin menyarung cincin and hantaran)

(Tepak Sirih & Cincin/duit tanda pertunangan)

(Wakil kedua pihak menyampai hajat)

(Sara - pretty and happy)

(Happy couple - the new beginning)

(Our beloved children: Iwan, Ella, Sara and Fitri))

(New and old couples)

(The apples of my eyes - Sara and her brother, Iwan)

Alhamdulillah... Majlis pertunangan Sara and Fitri went smoothly as planned. As you take the first step of a committed relationship today, we wish both of you happiness, prosperity and love.

SMKB/SIC gathering @ KGNS...

Blessed

By: Rachael Lampa

All along the road less traveled,

I have crawled and I have run.

I have wandered through the winds and rains,

Until I found the sun.

But watching eyes, asked me why,

I walk this narrow way,

There may never be a reason,

For the hope I have today....

Old boys and old girls of SMKB 1971/SIC 1973 gathered together at KGNS. Some are already grandpas and grandmas and we had fun meeting old friends and reminisce old bitter sweet memories. Some came all the way from Kota Bharu, one came from Singapore and one flew from the USA just for this occasion.

(L-R: Nik Azlan, Cikgu Zain, Harun, Shukri, Adilah, Jeff, Nasir, Abdul, Nik Arif, Doc Iskandar, Nik Zainal, Doc Helmi, Tan BB, TOM)

(Seated: Nong, Datin Mahiran, Nik Aminah, Nasidah, Halawah, Noriah)'

My 54th Birthday...

"The world is like a mirror; frown at it, and it frowns at you. Smile, and it smiles, too..." - Herbert Samuel

(Birthday girl - smiling with happiness)

My 54th birthday was celebrated in the office with my colleagues with abundance of food and lots of laughter. I felt a tinge of sadness too, as this will be the last birthday celebrated with office mates. By next year’s birthday I will already be retired, and alone on my own…

(A delicious cake - TQ Boss)

(A bouquet of roses for the angel)

Later, the whole family, my besan inclusive, celebrated my birthday, together with Ella's birthday at Victoria Station, PJ.

Our Beijing Trip...

"Men tire themselves in pursuit of rest..." - Laurence Sterne

Hubby will be accompanying me for a business trip to Beijing and later we will be spending a few days exploring the Capital City....

Will be updating my travel blog when I come back!

My Travel Reflections: Beijing-2009

Time passes...

"Life is 10 percent what you make it, and 90 percent how you take it..." - Irving Berlin '

(2003 - Family vacation in Sarawak...)

Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up..
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Hearts break.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.

When I began this life adventure, I had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead...

Momento from China (2009)

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more...” - Mother Teresa

 

(A set of lacquerware ornaments)

Chinese Lacquerware

Lacquer was a popular form of decoration and protective covering in ancient China. It was used to colour and beautify screens, furniture, bowls, cups, sculpture, musical instruments, and coffins, where it could be carved, incised, and inlaid to show off scenes from nature, mythology, and literature. 

Lacquerware can be made of wood, metal, or just about anything similar which have been covered in a liquid made of shellac or melted resin flakes dissolved in alcohol or a synthetic substance, which forms a hard protective smooth coating when dry. Lacquerware remains relatively light in weight.

In October 2009, hubby and I travelled to Beijing, China and spent a week visiting the attractions with the help of a personal tourist guide.

My Overseas Travel Blog: munmus.blogspot.com

Our bundle of joy...

“To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world…” - Bill Wilson

(Hana Ashran binti Mirwan Ashran)

Born on a Wednesday, full of grace

You stole our hearts, when we saw your face

Dark tousled hair, and dark brown eyes

A little bundle of joy, what a wonderful surprise!

My grand daughter baby Hana Ashran was born today at 4.44 p.m. weighing 2.56 kg... Alhamdulillah...

Selamat Hari Raya...

“Only enemies speak the truth; friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty…” - Stephen King

(Second Hari Raya @ the chalet in our kebun)

May every minute of your eid
Be happy warm and bright...
May all your hopes and dreams
Turn out exactly right...

Happy 30th Anniversary, yang...

"I always knew looking back on the tears would make me laugh, but I never knew looking back on the laughs would make me cry..." 

On our special day, I received a beautiful card from dear hubby:

I don’t tell you often enough,

How special you are,

How much I love you,

And how good it feels

Just knowing you’re

Always there for me…

p.s. Looking forward to more and more and more years to come together. Thank you for being you and Happy Anniversary, yang.

I love you too….

I lost a cousin...

"Live your life so that when you die, you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying..."

Inna lillah wa inna 'ilayhi raji'un...

My cousin Rahim is the same age as me and he died today after a long battle with colon cancer. The last time I met him was nearly a year ago on Eidil-Fitri. And he was so full of energy then.

I pray that he be granted jannah...

In the month of Ramadhan

you quitely depart

A feeling of grief fills my heart

My soul is moved, awaken my fears

I pray for you, in silent tears

May you be peaceful

in your closing hours...

Ramadan Mubarak...

"A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A timely word may level stress. But a loving word may heal and bless..." 

In this blessed month of Ramadan,
May Allah the Almighty shower

his choicest blessings on all of us.
May Allah make our Iman stronger.
'

May Allah forgive all our sins,

short comings and mistakes.

May Allah fulfill all our desires.

May Allah safeguard us

from all calamities and troubles.

Happy breathing...

"What we really are matters more than what other people think of us..." - Jawaharlal Nehru

I received in my e-mail this morning on some very simple steps that can be practiced for prevention of H1N1:

1. Frequent hand-washing - well highlighted in all official communications.

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face.

3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water - (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation.

4. Clean nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. Blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.

5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. Drink as much of warm liquids as you can. Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

All these are simple ways to prevent, within means of most households, and certainly much less painful than to wait in long queues outside Government hospitals.

Happy breathing!!

Happy Birthday Yang!

"Love may not make the world go round, but it makes the ride worth while..."

We had an early birthday celebration at Victoria Station on Friday with Sara, Iwan and Ella. Hubby had his lobster and I had my chili spare ribs. The kids ordered their favorite dishes too. Back in the apartment we enjoyed a few slices of the delicious carrot walnut cake while watching a movie on HBO.

'My Love for You

'

My love for you, shall never pause,

Strong and determined with all our flaws.

It endures and doesn’t judge,

Never holds a lasting grudge.

'

My love for you, lives by the truth,

Always keeps me, in my youth.

When it sees, our trust and hope,

It climbs and conquers any slope.

'

By Martin Dejnicki

I'm flat tired...

"That's how I feel after a long hard day in the office... I need to take a break again soon!"

A hard day's night

It's been a hard day's night,

and I've been working like a dog

It's been a hard day's night,

I should be sleeping like a log

But when I get home to you

I find the things that you do

Will make me feel alright

You know I feel alright

(Beatles)

Kerengga Challenge...

“If you realize that you have enough, you are truly rich...” - Lao Tzu

(Once bitten, twice shy...)

For a few consecutive weeks we have been busy harvesting rambutan and dokong and have been bringing full basket loads to the office and some we sedekah to the Masjid. Most of the rambutan has been harvested. Except for some higher up which we didn’t manage to pluck, we’ll leave them to the resident bats and the visiting squirrels to feast on.

'

(The dokong is ripening fast)

We have not been to the kebun for almost 2 weeks as we were busy with the happenings in KL. And last weekend, when we went to inspect the dokong trees there were a lot more to be harvested. While hubby was busy bush-cutting around the chalet, the harvesting was left to me to manage.

(Baskets of sweet dokong)

Unlike rambutan, harvesting dokong is quite a challenge for I have to climb the trees (with the help of a ladder, of course) and to carefully pluck the fruits to avoid them falling to the ground and scattered all over the place.
'
Further more I have to bear with the painful bites of the kerengga to get to the fruits…. Arghhh…

Grandmas & Grandpas Reunion @ The Summit

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late…” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

It all started in April 2009 when I received a comment in my blog from a long lost friend who has created a link and triggered the chain of events. A classmate I have not heard of or met after I left form 5 and KB for good! After a few calls and emails we decided to get connected through the facebook and planned for a re-union. And on the planned date, we met our long lost friends, some we have not met for almost 40 years. 20 of us met at the Summit Hotel and the presence of YB Ubai from KB, Wan Nor from Penang and our musicians Lokman@Lord and Ishak Haji Muda were bonus surprises!
'
We have become grandmamas and grandpapas. Externally, we have changed a lot. Internally we are still our old selves…
'

Standing from left: Dr. Wan Yunus, Adilah Hassan, Hasni Hassan, Noriah Abdullah, Dr. Mohd Helmi, Capt. Wan Aziz, Harun Muhamed, Lokman@Lord

Sitting from left: Nasidah Ahmad, Nik Aminah Abdullah, YB Wan Ubaidah, Rohani Yusoff, Habsah Hassan, Nong
'

Thank You Allah

'

thank you Allah

for creating this path in cyber

thank you Allah

for showing the route

'

ending my decades of searches

to a heart i wish to mend

the heart that i cracked

amidst mine that was shattering

'

thank you Allah

for taking away my bed of thorns

'

~TokNgah~

April 15, 2009

SMKB Girls Re-union @ Secret Recipe

"Maybe some secret should just stay secret..."

The SMKB girls re-union was also graced by Col. Abdul Waley the thorn among the roses and he brought his 2 daughters and youngest son as bodyguards. We were all excited and when we met everyone was so engrossed trying to tell their stories and so much to off load in so little time. Anyhow, we managed to snap some pictures to capture the precious moments.
'
Meeting old schoolmates after 37 years separation: " macam jejak kasih je!!!.." said the Colonel. And there will be another gathering with the rest of the guys on 25 July 2009...

The Crossroads

(by Tara Simms)

There were promises made in childhood,

In the days of our innocence

We laughed, we played, we cried.

Throughout high school dramas,

Broken hearts and adolescence,

But our special friendship thrived...

Rejuvenate body and soul...

"The heaviest baggage for a traveler is an empty purse..." - German proverb

After 2 days of struggling to clear the in-trays, reply to e-mails and return some calls, only this morning I disabled the ‘out-of-office’ message and had time to sit back to reflect on my journey.

Friends started calling and e-mails filled up my in-box again. Friends questioned on how I managed to drop everything and go off for a long holiday without having guilt feelings to leave work and family. I had fun listening and reading their comments and I responded – what work? What family?

I told them, so very often when we are engrossed in work and daily matters, we forget how important relaxation is. It’s true. Ever since I first stepped in this organization, I have been a workaholic. I never went home before the day was dark and be in office before the sky was bright. Since the children were small, I seldom take leave, even when they were down with fever. I leave it to the nursery to take care of them. I only see them when they were already in bed and many times I missed kissing them good nights. The same thing goes to my hubby, full time job and no-slow-down.

Too often we are so busy building our wealth that we neglect our health. But now we are making an effort to have a work-life balance. While hubby had slowed down significantly when he left his corporate job, I am still high in adrenaline into my work for I just do not know how to sit still, yet.

My advice to friends… Don’t wait till you retire. Take that vacations and rejuvenate!

Your body will thank you a lot.

Home sweet home...

“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things...” - Henry Miller'

Baloney Again

We don't eat in no white restaurant
We're eatin' in the car

We don't sleep in no white hotel bed
We're sleepin' in the car
'Baloney again…

You don't strut around in these country towns
You best stay in the car

Look on ahead don't stare around
You best stay where you are

You're a long way from home
Don't push your luck too far

Baloney again…

Down a long dirt road
We're a long way from home

Go under the willow
Park her up beside the stream

Shoulders for pillows
Lay down your head and dream
'Baloney again…

(Mark Knopfler)

My Overseas Travelogue: Brisbane: the starting point

Travel Australia...

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life...” – Jack Kerouac

This 2-week journey is full of captivating experiences that take us to the most spectacular scenery starting from Brisbane to Port Campbell and back again to Brisbane through different routes...

13 June 2009 - Brisbane, Beginning of the journey
14 June 2009 - Moonee Beach, The ocean tide
15 June 2009 - Coffs Harbour, The Big Banana
16 June 2009 - Forster, The Great Lake lonely pelican
17 June 2009 - Benalla, Passing through the outback
18 June 2009 - Port Campbell, The Twelve Apostles
19 June 2009 - Traralgon, A glimpse of Melbourne
20 June 2009 - Batemans Bay, Lakes, valleys and parks
21 June 2009 - Sydney Hills, The Grand Pacific Drive
22 June 2009 - Port Stephens, Hop-on Hop-off Sydney sightseeing
23 June 2009 - Mermaid Beach, No vacancy at all caravan parks
24 June 2009 - Gold Coast, Surfer's Paradise whale watching
25 June 2009 - Sunshine Coast, Home of the crocodile hunter
26 June 2009 - Green Mountain, The tin man of Mt. Tamborine
27 June 2009 - Brisbane, Attractions and Botanical Parks

Our journey is coming to an end. It was a good exciting holiday and we plan to come back soon to venture further in the land down under.

G’day Mate…

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

H1N1 Stage 6...

"Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home..."

Unlike our other holiday trips, this time around we are quite apprehensive.

Our original plan is to rent a caravan and drive from Brisbane to Melbourne and cross to Tasmania by ferry. But now, Melbourne is categorised as the swine-flu capital of the world, with the H1N1 virus twice as prevalent as it is in Mexico, where the pandemic began, we contemplated whether it is a wise decision. To avoid risk, we decided to skip our trip to Tasmania because of the risk of being infected is high especially in the confined area during the long ferry rides. But there is also the risk of picking up the H1N1 flu virus on the road along the way. But hopefully, travelling in a caravan may reduce the likelihood, InsyaAllah.

But I need to keep it real, there is also a risk of us being hit by a car, bitten by dingos or trampled by kangaroos, and picking up the common flu virus anytime.

WHO has declared H1N1 a stage 6 pandemic and we have to take precautions… Wish me luck!

I will be updating my overseas travelogue @ Munmus.blogspot.com as and when I have the opportunity.

My next destination...

“I’ve got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom...” - Thomas Carlyle

It’s the end of holidays for most
but it’s the beginning of ours
a journey of feelings and thoughts
to places unknown, just the two of us'

Hubby and I are going to disappear for a week or two. We will travel in a caravan like a couple of free-spirited wandering gypsies, so care-free like a floating feather.

Stopping whenever and wherever we like …

My Overseas Travelogue: munmus.blogspot.com

Kelantan - Best friends forever...

“It's the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected...” - Charles Lamb

(Clear blue sky)

Friday morning, we started from our apartment early and stopped in Hospital Selayang for our flu shots. The weather was bright and sunny, and we decided to take the Gua Musang route to KB. Our plan is to stop at KT branch on the way back to KL.

The traffic was heavy at first but moving. At KM252 the traffic stopped for no apparent reason. We suspected an accident occuring a few miles ahead. But when our cars were not moving from their original spots we got suspicious.

 

(Accident prone area)

Some drivers abandoned their vehicles and started walking to find out the cause of the massive jam. Those with families and small kids, got out of their cars and picnicked along the roadside.

(Miles of static traffic jam)

I while away my time snapping some pictures, munching on tidbits and counting cars that made u-turn to seek for alternative routes. After 3 solid hours of immobilisation, I rested by feet on the dash-board and went to sleep.

(Resting my feet on the dashboard)

Much later, when policemen came with bull-dozers and the like, and still no progress made, we decided to make a u-turn and took an alternative route through palm-oil plantations with the help of our Garmin. We reached Maran around 6 p.m. for a very late lunch or early dinner...

The YB has earlier arranged for us to stay in a friend's chalet in PCB. But when we reached PCB at 3 a.m. we decided to sleep in the car and knocked on the door early morning as not to disturb Kak Yoh from her sleep. We rested well in the morning and went to Anie's house for the kenduri and met up with a few of my long lost friends...

(Nashitah, Nong, Anie, YB Ubai, Nik Airah and Dr. Naemah)

Kelantan - Laksam and Nasi dagang...

“Words are easy, like the wind; Faithful friends are hard to find...” - William Shakespeare

Last week was the start of the school holiday and nearly half the staff in the department has disappeared into thin air. What is interesting is that instead of having fewer meetings, I ended up with my diary full to the brim. While ensuring meetings are kept brief, some finished way after office hours.

'

Thursday afternoon, the section heads met to discuss on audit issues. After a few hours of intense arguments with no resolutions in sight, I declared defeat, packed my things and headed for home. I need a rest, for Friday, hubby and I will be driving to Kota Bharu to attend Ani daughter's wedding and meet up old SMKB/SIC friends .

'

And if I have the time, I will look for nasi kerabu and nasi dagang and meet up with one blogger friend, insyaAllah….

Perak - Another subpoena in Ipoh…

“He who returns from a journey is not the same as he who left...”

Tuesday was also packed with meetings in the office. After office, packed some clothes and drove to Ipoh and checked in Syuen Hotel . Next day, in the Ipoh Magistrate Court I was again seated in the kandang saksi to testify and will be called again in July for cross examination...

'

Penang trip - Laksa and Pasembor…

'
"We don't have to change friends, if we understand that friends change..."
'

The court proceeding in Ipoh ended late. We drove to Penang and checked in Gurney Hotel and rested well for Thursday I had a long day with the auditors at our branch.

'

Friday and Saturday were spent in the chalet at Batu Feringgi. Pampered ourselves with nasi kandar and pasembor, a round of foot reflexology and watched 2 movies, ‘Angels and Demons’ and ‘Terminator – Salvation’.
'

On the way back to KL, stopped at our besan’s house in Sri Iskandar for tea.

Johor - From Bangi to JB...

“You can go through life and make new friends every year but there was never any substitute for those friendships of childhood that survive into adult years..."

(Ezzah, Kak Pah, Pb and me...)

On the way to JB we stopped at Kak Pah’s house for kenduri aqiqah for her cucu and her daughter’s bertunang in Bandar Baru Bangi. We met up with Ezzah and hubby and pB and kids too. We reached JB just in time for the annual dinner. Whole day Sunday was spent in Singapore for some shopping but the weather was too hot for comfort.

'

Monday was packed with meetings and briefings by the branch team. We started back to KL after 6 pm and reached KL before midnight.

Johor - Laksa johor… yum yum

“The man of knowledge must be able not only to love his enemies but also to hate his friends...” - Friedrich Nietzsche

Just came back from Kuching and already knee-deep in work and the boss is conveniently away on holiday!

'

This coming weekend, again I will accompany the big boss to our JB branch annual dinner. The small boss and the other deputy are tagging along too. Most probably we’ll need to stay till Monday for we need to attend a few meetings with the branch team.

'

The theme for the annual dinner is green and I do not have the time to look for green dress. Mentang-mentang dah hujan dua tiga hari ni, dah nampak hijau sikit dunia ni..

'Each of us is like one drop of rain,
A single splatter on the thirsty sand.
Remember, though, that drops fall not alone,
a grand harmony that waters the plain.
'Do not think, then,
that you're on your own,
A tiny drop upon a dying land.
But you are a storm,
whose green fields will remain.
© by Nick Gordon