Al-Fatihah.....

During our last summer holidays in London, we were shocked by sad news from Brunei. A colleague and my SS79 mate, passed away, after some months of battling against cancer.

The colleague, who was an active golfer, suffered from colon? cancer.I still remember the last time when I met and talked to him in the office. He looked so worried (who didn't?) and he had lost so much weight already then. I did not know about his illness until another colleague told me. I was hoping to see him again after that but he was already on medical leave.....

For the case of my SS79 mate, he left behind a wife and 8 children. He was diagnosed with lung cancer.

May they rest in peace and in the safe-keeping of Allah SWT....amien.....

Is RP30,000 = SGD4.60 worth the rush?

I received this article this morning and sharing it with you all, as reminder....Astagfirullahaladzim

Demi Allah, tak pantas kita hidup bermewah-mewahan... tak pantas kita hidup berlebih-lebihan... dan tak pantas kita hidup dengan pemborosan...Artikel ini mengingatkan, betapa diluar sana masih banyak orang2 yang sebenarnya lebih pantas untuk memiliki sebagian harta kita Mudah-mudahan sama-sama bisa diambil ibroh-nya...

Kompas, Selasa, 16 September 2008

Mereka Meninggal Demi Rp30 Ribu!

Demi uang sebesar Rp30.000, ribuan orang di di Jl Wahidin Pasuruan rela berdesak-desakkan dan mengakibatkan 21 orang tewas.Peristiwa tragis itu terjadi saat pembagian zakat yang dimulai pada pukul 10.00 WIB. Ribuan warga miskin yang datang dari berbagai pelosok desa di sekitar Kota dan Kabupaten Pasuruan itu berebut saling berdesakan guna mendapatkan zakat dengan nilai nom ina l Rp30.000 per orang yang dilangsungkan oleh keluarga dermawan H Syaichon di Jalan Dr Wahidin Sudirohusodo, Kota Pasuruan.Keluarga Syaichon yang mengatur para penerima zakat masuk satu per satu ke dalam halaman rumahnya, akhirnya membuat ribuan orang yang terkonsentrasi di sebuah gang tak bisa bergerak, bahkan orang yang pingsan pun tidak bisa keluar. Puncaknya adalah: 21 orang tewas!

Nice to be home....

Alhamdulillah, we arrived home safely last Sunday, 14 Sep. Still feeling tired and 'small' jetlag to get over. But it is still nice to be home though and still miss the kind weather here in Brunei. The boys, Darling and Baby are back to school the next day after we arrived and to start their holidays again soon. I will be back in the office next week Monday.

While in Central London, I was unable to update happenings, as the place where we stayed did not have any internet or wi-fi connection. So, I have a lot of catch up to do, since it has been almost 2 weeks, from my last post.

Will be back soon.....

A Day at the Dockside Outlet Centre

Along the way to Kent University Medway

Kent University campus area

Greenwich University in the background


Dockside Outlet Centre


Dockside Marina



Dockside Outlet Centre stores

On the way to Chatham

Finally....

My counting down is over. Me, Darling and Baby were off to London last Wednesday evening, to meet dearest hubby/ayah and for our holiday.

Entourage from PB and DS sending us off at BIA

Dubai transit

At London Heathrow Airport, we were received by dearest hubby/Ayah.

Outside Heathrow Airport at the 'London Taxi' stand

London Victoria Station - reminded me of college days

Darling Asyraf and Baby Isyraf at Gillingham, groceries shopping

Ramadhan Mubarak - Time For Reflection

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

O Believers, fasting is decreed for you as it was decreed for those before you, so that you may learn to restrain yourselves.
(Al Quran 2:183)

The Prophet (SAW) said:'Allah has said: "Every action of the son of Adam is for him except fasting, for that is solely for Me, and I shall reward it (in a special way).....A person who dasts experience two joys, he is joyful when he breaks his fast and he is joyful when he meets his Lord."
(Bukhari Muslim)

The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever fasts during Ramadhan with faith, seeking reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven. And whoever spends the Night of Power (Laylat ul Qadr) in prayer, with faith, seeking his reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven."
(Bukhari Muslim)

The Prophet (SAW) said: "Whoever prays during the nights of Ramadhan with faith, seeking his reward from Allah, will have his past sins forgiven."
(Bukhari Muslim)

The Prophet (SAW) said: "If a person does not give up accusations and bad behaviour while fasting, Allah has no need of his giving up food or drink."
(Bukhari Mullim)

The Prophet (SAW) said: "There are those who get nothing from their fast but hunger and thirst, and there are those who pray at night and get nothing from it but loss of sleep."
(Ahmad)

Purify your intentions, seek reward from Allah and fulfill your duties and increase your ibadaa for the sake of Allah alone. The true reward is yet to come Insya Allah.

May Ramadhan user upon us peace, happiness and prosperity.

It's Finally Here......

Today is my last day at work and I am flying off tomorrow! Hooray!

It's All About Perspective

Talk To Allah....

Sayyidi wa sanadi Hadhrat Mawlana Mohammad Taqi Sumani (may Allah preserve him) said:

“Develop this habit of talking to Allah.

My shaykh Arif-billah Hadhrat Dr Abdul-Hayy ‘Arifi (may Allah have mercy on him) told this to us repeatedly.

Sit in solitude and contemplate that I am in-front of Allah. Tell Him everything that is on your mind and bothering you. Your past mistakes, the present difficulties and future apprehensions . Tell Him in detail and ask for guidance and help.

InsyaAllah, in addition, to relieving your anxiety it will lead to the creation of a bond between you and Allah (ta’luq ma Allah).”

Resah......

The sharing of LAGU TENTANG CINTA started when Daffy was asking me if I would know the title of one Indonesian song. So he started singing some of the lyrics to me and I knew it was by Hetty Koes Endang and an Indonesian footballer, Adjat Sumardjat. We sang it together again and again, just trying to recall. I told Daffy, the song had been my favorite and it was during my love 'affair' with dearest years back. We sang and sang but still could not figure out the title. It was after we left the tennis court, I suddenly managed to recall the title and shouted to Daffy:

"It is RESAH Daff"

"Are you sure?" wondered Daffy

Confidently I said "Very"

Daffy took out his pen and started jotting it down on a small piece of paper. He was so happy and so excited. I told him, I have the MP3 and would forward it to him if he could not find one in the net. Apparently, he could not, and only managed the karaoke version. So, I forwarded him the MP3 version I have got and that was how it got on air in KFM......

Daffy, you would not be RESAH now......

Aku Cinta Kepada Mu.....

I was on my way home from work yesterday. As usual I like to tune in to KFM and especially when DJ Daffy is on air. Daffy is also our usual tennis sparring mate.

Daffy then said:

"Ka Eita, if you are listening right now, I have a special message for you"

I was kind of "huh, special message for me?"

I waited anxiously for the 'special message'.

"Here it is. Actually, I received a text message from your hubby, who is in the UK right now...... and he said 'I miss you so much and that I love you', requested for a song entitled 'LAGU TENTANG CINTA by Bebi Romeo and Rita Effendi".

As soon as the music played, suddenly without realizing, my tears flowed down my cheeks. The song, the words, the voices, all in, really touched my heart. No doubt this song has been our favorite since we first got it years back and used to listen to it with dearest hubby, while driving.

All this while, I have been keeping this special song to ourselves. Only like 2 days ago, I was ready to share it and happened to be Daffy. LAGU TENTANG CINTA was first time ever to be played on air by Daffy.




(To listen to this beautiful song, please check My Favorites)

Lagu Tentang Cinta

Dengar, dengar lah cinta ku
Dengan hatimu yang dulu
Lelap, lelap kan tidur mu
Sampai kau datang pada ku

Aku akan bernyanyi
Sebuah lagu tentang cinta
Yang berakhir bahagia
Seperti pertama
Aku cinta kepada mu

Dengar, ku dengar cinta ku
Dengan hati ku yang dulu
Lelap, ku lelap kan tidur ku
Sampai kau datang pada ku

Aku akan bernyanyi
Sebuah lagu tentang cinta
Yang berakhir bahagia
Seperti pertama
Aku cinta kepadamu

Aku akan bernyanyi
Sebuah lagu tentang cinta
Yang berakhir bahagia
Seperti pertama
Aku cinta kepadamu

Aku cinta kepadamu

Perspective

I was contacted by one of our health centre personnel yesterday. I was asked if I would want to visit a patient who is currently admitted in the hospital. I have got no details of the patient yet and whether she would be ready to see me. I just hope she would.

Whatever it is, I find that it is comforting and would help recovery if one's talk it out and share with others. The more you keep it to yourself, the more stressful you would be. This is what I have learnt and it really made the change in me - the mindset, the attitude and the perspective of life. This way, it boosts up one's confidence and become stronger. To me, these are the secrets to strive in life. It made me feel sad if one's is not willing to share. Sad that one's has to go through by one's self, knowing the fact that they are not alone.

I hope to hear the good news today that the patient is willing and ready to see me.

I wish her all the best of health, a speedy and full recovery.

What a difference a day makes

Perspective is everything

Today; sunny and bearable, even with possibility

Yesterday; dull, smoothering and never-ending

Wait things out, ride the storm, push on through

It is true what they say

The day will go out and come back

Looking just slightly different

.......mindyourmind

Counting the days

Can't wait....see you soon.....

18th Anniversary....3 August

You might not be around, but we are close in each other's heart........

Dearest off to UK

Just 5 days ago, my dearest one and only left for the UK. I and the boys are missing him already. He will be doing his exams proceeding to his certification. Yesterday was his first paper. He was kind of worried at first but I convinced him and that I will pray for him as well. My prayers were heard. According to his text message earlier (right after mid-night), he and his two other colleagues had successfully passed the paper. Alhamdulillah.....


We will be leaving for UK in 3 weeks time, to meet him and we have looked forward for it....counting the days.....

Miss you dearly and we will see you soon.....

Two months since....

I have been very busy for the last couple of months.....family and work. That was why there had been a lapse in my blogging. And soon, I and my two princes will be away for a few weeks joining my husband, enjoying summer now.

Just briefly, I had another friend who lost the battle against cancer recently. A strong lady who fought till the last. I still remember for the last time I visited her, she was so happy to see me. She was so energetic and talkative as if nothing was wrong with her (though she knew she would not have that much chance as the disease was so progressive, affecting her brain!) When I saw her like that, I had the confidence that she will rise over the top. Sadly, she had to give up the fight. I cried when I heard the news from her relative.....I pray that she is now in the safe-keeping of Allah......

The other story...I had another patient referred to the specialist after her doctor had confirmed that the lump in her breast had been found cancerous. Panic and confuse, the sister-in-law called me up, seeking some advice, as surgery was suggested immediately the next day. Honestly, I myself was unhappy on the advice to do the surgery immediately, giving her no room, not to say 'think' but learn how to cope the situation. I asked myself questions like what if she need to undergo major surgery? Can she cope? How will she take care of her 1+ years old baby? Is she ready? These what led me to refer her to my specialist friend in town. I feel relieved when my friend managed to squeeze her in the hectic appointments she already had. I had not contacted them since and I am sure, everthing will go well......

Weekend....

Despite a busy weekend, I still managed to get a good rest...sleeping of course.

In the morning of Saturday, I went to RIPAS for an appointment with the Occupational Health Department. I met this lady called Zubidah. She is nice and friendly. She was so surprised, why only after 2 years, I had came to see her. So I told her the process and procedures that I went through at that time and we concluded, there had been 'communication' error somewhere along the line. We chatted until about an hour on so many things....life, children and of course health and medical stuff.

Later in the afternoon, I had some tennis games with my husband, my son and some other tennis mates.

In the evening, after sending off my boys to their tuition, my husband took me out to dinner, birthday treat it was. He suggested many places but I chose C@fe De Roy@lle. I had salmon steak and he had salmon avocado salad (dieting I suppose hehehe). I have tried a few salmon steak around, but so far, that was the best. The portion was just nice and it was very tasty (I should have taken the picture). I plan to go again this weekend or may be to Charcoal?

After, I would say, a heavy treat that Saturday night and Sunday afternnon, we had some tennis again that Sunday. Played a few winning games and joined the netball enthusiasts after that. I had not played netball for 8? years but I still love the game....who doesn't when you were just one of those who had represented Brunei years ago in the Arafura Games'92 in Darwin? Yes, I was in the National Team! Brunei was just 'too young' to participate. It was 'trial and error' but was a good experience and exposure for the 12 of us at that time, especially when netball was starting to be very popular in Brunei. Winning is one thing but the knowledge and skill acquired which count. I am also a certified netball umpire. Myself and another netball mate were the first from Brunei to attended the Netball Umpiring Camp in Singapore at that time. But as I said, I am more to tennis now.

Anyway, how hectic your schedules are, what ever sports you love, carry on and move on. It is the choice that you made. I wish everyone the pink of health......

12 June....

It's the month of the year and the date of the month. Another year passed by, another year came around. Thank you Allah for this wonderful blessing and precious gift.

It's my birthday today. I shed tears when my beloved husband greeted and wished me this morning. It has been 18 wonderful years we shared our lives together. He had been there for me all these years and with me on my birthday today. Alhamdulillah, another wonderful gift for me from Allah.

I recieved a lot of sms this morning from family, friends and colleagues in the office. There were also greetings on air via KFM. My nieces Ku Farah Eica and Ku Farah Abadi made an early morning phone call to me.

'Happy birthday Bonda! Are you going to belanja us tomorrow?' said Eica

I laughed and asked her for my presents.

'Happy birthday Bonda! I love you' greeted Abadi

I asked her for my presents as well and she asked for hers instead as her birtday is not long from now.

These are my other cute nieces. Abadi, the talent for Disney Channel programme, will have her episode on air this Saturday, 14 June at 9ish and 5ish. The repeast will be at the same time on Sunday.

I am so proud to be their bonda.

News Over Lunch...

Heard from a friend that two of her friends had been diagnosed with breast cancer, stage 3 and 4 respectively. One of them had to go for further treatment in Singapore now while the other is resting at home after some series of chemotheraphy and radiotheraphy to follow up later. I have not got much detail though i.e why at stage 3 and 4. I have been wondering till now, how could that happen but keep fighting warriors. My prayers with you.......


Known facts

1. Lack of awareness


2. Shying away


3. Ignorant

I would raise up my hand for 1, which is the case in many. We still think that once you are diagnosed with cancer, any cancer that is, you are facing the death sentence. Completely not true. The taboo had long gone. There are so many survivor stories around and these survivors had cheated death. There are so many medical advancements now. More information are made available, be them in the net, books, magazines, talks, etc. It is all up to us to be in the 'AWARE' mode. I would not deny that myself, as death was exactly what I thought too, when the doctor broke the news to me. Because back then, cancer was a bad word. Nobody even dare talked about it or even to mention it. Even the doctors were reluctant to discuss cancer. Many of us have the so called the 'ostrich syndrome'. We believed that what don't know and talk about it, won't affect us.

The lack of awareness leads to SHYING AWAY with the disease. There is no one to turn to, for comfort or even support. In some case, refraining even from the closest people around if not from own best friends. This added to the stress of coping to live with the disease. That is why in many cases, patients would simply give-up. They lose hope and lose the courage.

It is sad to hear and is that purely ignorant? Ignorant for not undergoing check-ups? Ignorant to know? Ignorant to live and fight?

Cancer doesn't just affect one person, it affects everyone who knows the person, and it takes a community to beat it.

Happenings....

Breast Cancer Support Group Walkathon, 4 May, 2008

With families and friends in support of my activity (pics courtesy of CTM)

With DJ Anna from KFM after the on-air interview

Series of survivor talks

Above with anakbrunei (pic courtesy of ranoadidas)

(pic courtesy of anakbrunei)