Stairway to Heaven

InsyaAllah I shall be making a trip to perform umrah with two of my sisters. My flight leave early tomorrow morning 26 Dec 2013 and scheduled to be back on 5 Jan 2014. It is a trip that I have planned and been looking forward to this year. 

It will also be the last journey for the year 2013 and also the first journey of the 2014. How apt!

To all my friends and relatives, I seek your forgiveness for any wrong doings and please doa/pray that I will be in excellent health and that all will be well accordingly to plan.

InsyaAllah I will be back with a new lease of life and a high spirit to move to the next chapter of my life.

May Allah bless everyone and I shall certaily pray for the well being of all my friends and relatives.  

InsyaAllah.

A Day of Joy

It's been sometime that I have driven a long distance journey. Alhamdulillah. The weather was on my side. Clear blue sky almost all the way to Seberang Prai with the exception of a few minutes of sudden rain. It was a pleasant journey with my sister and her young ones. We talked all the way and before we know it we have arrived our destination. A good 4 hours drive with a short pit stop in Simpang Pulai.

And its been sometime that I have been up north. It reminded me of those days when we drived regularly as a family to visit our eldest girl who was in a college in Pematang Pauh. That was like 3 years back. And this time around the reason for the journey is the marriage of our nephew who has chosen a bride from the north. The nikah was today and tomorrow will be the reception at the bride's family. And immediately after we will make our way back home.

Yup. Its just a one nighter. But its worth the journey. To see the happy faces. The tears of joys. And the glowing bride and bridegroom, filled with anticipation of a bright future together. 

Life is full of promises. Create and treasure every moment. Make the most of your time together. And appreciate one another. Thats my advice. 

May Allah bless this union and may He grant you happiness till the end of time.

Aameen. 

                        

Expect the Unexpected when you least Expected

It has been a strange week. A mix bag. Mix feeling. The photo below give a brief summary of the happening but doesnt really tell all. I know. May be we will just have a chat over coffee shall we?

Good nite. Maaf zahir batin.

Good Times Roll

 I am touched. I got to know that my writing has helped at least one person who is facing some difficult times.  I have been writing as a form of "let-out" for me and knowing that it has also help others is a real bonus. 

Alhamdulillah.

Anyways, as you all know very well, I am now back to my 'normal' day to day life without the 'restriction'. And you also are very much aware of my travelling plans and get together. Err... I think I have overdone it with the catching ups and get togethers. I swear I have put back the pounds that I have lost during the 4 months of eddah within the last two weeks! Seriously!

First of all, being at my parents home always means non stop eating and snacking. How can we resist the home cooked meal. Local Johor food, you alls! 

And the lunches and dinners amidst chats and laughters..... The feel good feeling simply brings out more flavours in the good food. It's true!

Who am kidding! Ha ha ha.... Actually being home late means I didn't have my usual half an hour on the exercise bike. LOL!

But it's all worth it. More catch ups and get togethers coming up soon.

And another short trip coming up too. A 3 days off site training in Melaka. And you know what? I forgot how to pack. The last time that had to pack a bag was way in February. Since then I had declined even an overnight off site meeting to be with my late hubby. ('Balik kampung' last week end doesn't count since I didn't really have to pack a bag).

I guess, I had better go upstairs and make an attempt to pack my stuff. Probably will end up bringing more than I need but hey, it will be a road trip so I can stuff as much as I want in the car! Ha ha!

Good niight everyone! Hope that it has been a wonderful week end for all and here's wishing everyone a great week ahead!

 

Down the Memory Lane

Its always good to be back home in our hometown. Where we were born. Where we grew up in. Where we played and learned. 

No matter how old we are, and how long we have set up our own home and family else where,  the feeling of 'being home' is still strong when we go back to our hometown. Especially when our parents are still living there. 

I guess its because it brings back a lot of memories. This morning I took a walk along the street where I used to take to go to my primary school. Its a good 1 km away. It didn't  seem that far those days. Simply because I usually walked with a friend and we would chat all the way there and never really noticed the distance. 

The landscape has changed somewhat but its still the road down memory lane...

And during my secondary school I would cycle to school with a couple of friends. The three of us even wear matching jackets and we have a name for our group. *giggle* Typical behaviour of students from an all girls school. 

Yup! Looking back I had a lot fun back in the early 70ies. I spent a lot of time in school with the school activities and 'other' activities with friends. Such that my Dad heaved a huge sigh of relief when I was offerred to continue my Form 4&5 in a boarding school. He probably thought that since I spent so much time in school, might as well stay in the school!

Oh yes. Those carefree days. The young and innocence. Mind you I was quite a 'tomboy' then! *giggle giggle* If I were to turn back time I would not change anything for the world. 

I had fun in the boarding school too but thats another story. And those are the pre-adolescent years. So they are kind of  different. If you know what I mean. And its a co-ed school some more. And SPM! The exam that is considered to be the critical 'make it or break it' platform for the future! Totally different 'adventure' altogether ! 

Its been sometime since I was back and I   am feeling so blessed and nostalgic at the same time. I hope that everyone else are having a good time too over the week end. 

May Allah continues to bless us all and may He grants us long lives filled with all the goodness in this world. 

Aameen. 

Mummy's Day Out

Last Monday was my last day of eddah and I had lunch 'dates' with friends on Tuesday and Wednesday as well as tomorrow Friday. (Thursday is a day for fasting). 

And not to be left out my girls also insisted on having dinner on Tuesday itself to 'mark' the day. (Aren't they adorable?!) I would not use the word 'celebrate' as its not really an occasion of celebration, is it? Its like after a confinement. You would go out for a good meal after the 44 days of strict diet and restricted activities too. 

But its not the same kind of dinner celebration on the occasion of one's birthday or passing an exam or such like. It is a more muted occasion. Still the end of eddah deserves an outing to give recognition of an achievement. For those who follow strictly on the eddah rules. 

And also it is good to show the rest of the world that we are not in mourning any more for we are certainly not encouraged to grieve longer than necessary. 

Anyway, since my girls were unable to go out on the same night, I was more than happy to go out for dinner separately with each of them on a different night. Funnily enough both chose to go for Japanese food. And I certainly has no advertion to having shashimi and teriyaki two nights in a row. 

This week end I will be going back to my hometown to see my parents. I am so looking forwards to that. The last time when I was back was a day trip on the first day of Hari Raya. 

Yup! Looking forward for this trip! And this little trip will be the 'maiden' trip before many more trips to come! Watch out world! Here I come! 

Bon apetite and bon voyage! 

P.S. Photo of one of the dishes we had yesterday! Taken by Syaza.

Moving Forward

You say that time flies. You know what? The last 4 months have been the longest in my life. It seemed like time has stood still. And then suddenly the period of eddah (of 4 months and 10 days) is almost over. Tomorrow will be the last day. The grieving and mourning period is officially over. 

Everyone who knows me knows that I am an outdoorish type of person and probably think that the last 4 plus months has cramped my style. Well, truth be told the 4 plus months has given me plenty of good things. Apart from the fact that it has given me the much-needed time to grieve and hide, it has also given me time to get back into shape! LOL! 

One thing for sure, its a good thing that I am required to wear 'mourning' clothes (dark colours and loose fitting) during this time as it has helped to hide my out of shape bods! Well, I have made full use of the stay-at-home rules. Daily half an hour exercise and simple meals has managed to get me back on track. 

Talking about loose fitting clothes, I kind of gotten used to wearing 'jubah' to work. They are certainly much more comfortable and somehow make me feel more feminine. Especially those with wide skirt and flowy material. So I may just continue wearing them. Well, maybe not everyday. And certainly those with brighter colours. And colourful scarves too. Hey! This calls for a day for shopping! Yeay! I really miss shopping! *grin*

Something else I miss is the 'time-out' with friends. I follow strictly to the eddah rules which includes no socializing in public places. And that means no lunch break at the cafe in the office either. I have my lunch in my room in the office most time but at time some friends dropped by to keep me company or have lunch with me. (You guys rock! You know who you are!) But most time we are all so busy anyway, and lunch has been such a rushed occasion. 

So Tuesday onwards there will be a lot of catching ups to do over lunch or dinner. I really need to get back in touch with all the lovely people out there. Plus I really miss sipping coffee at leisure while watching the world go by....

Well. It will be another phase in my life. But thats life. You win some. You lose some. They are all whats good for us regardless. As it's Allah's will, afterall. 

To everyone who has stood by me, I hope that you will continue to be a big part of my life every step of the way. InsyaAllah.