Firdaus

Today is my eldest son Firdaus's birthday.He will be 27. Firdaus is an aircraft technician in Airod, Kepala Batas,Kedah. He married a Kedah girl, Zuraidah from Gunung Keriang.That's where is situated the Muzium Padi,one of Kedah's attractions.But the mountain looks more attractive.You can get lots of limestone crystals here. They have a one year old son Hasif,our first grandchild. Since he got married, Firdaus seldom comes home.The excuse is that both he and his wife have different weekends.He is off on Saturdays and Sundays.She is off on Fridays. Any way, I feel he has done all right for his family.He has bought a house,and that is the most important part in building a future for his own family. My prayer is that he will cherish his family,parents and siblings.Take good care of his health.Don't get into debts.Don't fool around.Make his home a happy home. I wish he would come home more often.We all miss and love that little fella.

Fadzlil's birthday

Today is my 3rd son Fadzlil's 22nd birthday. If not for that unfortunate accident 4 years ago, he would be out celebrating his birthday with the guys. It is frustating but he has accepted it. Never stop asking God for a cure and recovery. Never stop believing in God. Think of what has happened to you and the effect on your loved ones as God's blessing (rahmat). Fadzlil, your mum,dad and siblings will stay by you all the time. Have courage in yourself and God will give you strength. Inshaallah.

Kak Endon Passes Away

Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, PM Abdullah's wife passed away this morning. Me and my family offer our most sincere takziah to Pak Lah's family and the Ambak family.Sabar banyak-banyak. Semoga ruhnya di cucuri rahmat.

24 Hours in a Ramadzan Day

We have been fasting for 11 days now. What effects me the most is my lost sleep. 24 hours of a day in Ramadzan,goes something like this. 00.00 : still awake watching tv with Fadzlil and Fahmie. 00.30 : Carry Fadzlil to his room.Fahmie goes to sleep. 01.30 : I go to bed after watching more tv.Set the alarm clock to 3.00 am. 03.00 : Awakened by the clock. Wake my missus up. Missus prepares sahur meal and coffee. Wake up all you lazy kids, especially Fahmie. Fahmie gets shaken and shaken for about ten times before he is conscious. Fadzlil is also woken up. My missus feeds him first. 04.30 : After the sahur,everyone goes back to sleep. Set the alarm for 6.00 am. 06.00 : Bath and subuh prayers.Repeat the same procedure for Fahmie. 07.00 : Send Lina to school SM Kampong Selamat. 07.30: Fahmie goes to work in Penang island. 08.00: Send Shafiq to school in Pokok Machang. 08.30: Go to market or shop ,buy newspapers. Read papers and fall asleep. 10.00: Wake Fadzlil up,me and Milah (my missus) carry him out and sit him in front of the tv.Wash his face and brush his teeth. 11.45: Collect Shafiq from his school.Bathe and change him. Milah starts working on today's buka puasa menu. 13.15: Zohor prayers. 14.30: Lina comes back from school.After she has bathed and rested,she will hog the computer until evening.Looking at her mail and chatting online. 14.30:Carry Fadzlil to bathroom for his bath. 15.00:Milah bathes him,he doesn't like me to bathe him. Carry him back to the bed,change his clothes,etc. Leave him for his nap until 5.30 pm. 15.00: I catch up for my lost sleep. 16.20 : Asar prayers. 17.30 : Carry Fadzlil out,so he can watch tv with the family. 17.30: Go to pasar Ramadzan buy some kuih for buka puasa. 18.45: Spread the dinner table with our food for breaking fast. Lina prepares the cool drinks. 19.06: Waktu berbuka puasa untuk Negeri Pulau Pinang dan kawasan- kawasan sewaktu dengannya. 19.15 to 20.00 : Maghrib prayers as soon as youve rested. 20.20: Prepare to go to mosque for Isha' and Terawih prayers. Sometimes I go ,sometimes I don't.See the weather lah. 23.00: Milah and Lina call it a day,say good night. Fahmie as usual, lawat kawasan until midnight. I watch tv with Fadzlil,sometimes tv watches us. 24.00: Same old routine again.

My Mum

Today October 7th is my mum's birthday. She would have been 80 years old. She was the eldest child of a Bengali immigrant named Azyze and a Malay lady named Aishah (aka Putih).She was born in 1925 in Sungai Petani,Kedah. Azyze later moved to Penang and worked in the PWD (now called JKR).When he retired he was active in UMNO and became Chairman of the Penang Rural District Council. A road in Tanjung Bunga was named after him. The road is Jalan Azyze. My mum and her sisters were among the very first Malay girls to attend a missionary school, Methodist Girls School, in Anson Road. She had to stop schooling when war broke out and after my grandma died in 1942. She was introduced to my dad by his brother (my uncle Noor Naim) who was courting her sister (my aunty Yon).My dad was working in Singapore ,so my uncle became his postman for their correspondence. They got married in 1943.They had 8 children (6 boys,2 girls). When my dad passed away it was devastating for us all.But my mother put on a brave front and stoically held the family together,together fighting hunger and poverty Until her last breath we made sure her life is comfortable and pleasant. She saw all her children got married,and every grand child that was born has been kissed by her.The grand children she did'nt see was my boy Shafiq and Fajar's girl Hafatin. But when we go back to our family home in Brown Garden, we will see a big photograph of our mum and our children's grandma. And there is another family portrait with mum and dad .

Selamat Berpuasa

Tomorrow 4th October all Muslims in Malaysia will start the fasting month of Ramadan. During this month we are obliged to refrain from eating and drinking from early dawn to dusk.We are also required to do a lot of ibadat ( doing good things like praying,reading the quran, do good deeds and give to the poor and weak.) Last year, Fadzlil (my paralysed son) managed to complete the fast,without any problems. This year I hope he will make it too. To all my family and fellow Muslims I wish Selamat Berpuasa.

A Message to Fahmie

Today is my second son Fahmie's 24th birthday. I wish him all the success in this world.Hope he will work harder and not fool around so much. Fahmie this is your life and only you and you alone can change it. Happy birthday my son.May God bless you. Love from Mak and Bapak and all your family.