Jangan Merokok

Kapal ni dulu siap belayar keliling dunia dok promote kempen jangan merokok. Tu diaa… punya la besar dia punya tulisan.

Kawan-kawan, jangan merokok.

BT-ing

I'm sending/replying SMSes from my office PC lightning fast, thanks to Bluetooth connection, and Nokia PC Suite.

Ultra cool! Well, that's one of many things that I could do differently (faster) with my handphone via BT.

With NPS, I could also manage my handphone data, faster. Backup, organise or deleting data has never been easier.

What needed are

• a pc
• good internet connection (to download the NPS software)
• bluetooth USB dongle - got it for RM30, I bet there are cheaper ones elsewhere

Check out what's behind the 'Bluetooth' name - wikipedia

Okay, I'm lagging waay behind in terms of embracing the technology. That being said, it means that I'm using it at a time when the technology is matured and the cost of the hardwares are relatively cheaper :)

What's next? Perhaps a BT earpiece for handsfree communication while driving (only).

sore arm

We went for Umar's first immunisation on Saturday evening in Pasir Gudang. The doctor didn't chart his growth, but we did a check on his weight.

He weighs 4.3kg, on his 60th day. No wonder my arm is sore this morning. I guess from carrying him around the house, for his time being awake is a bit longer now.

Other obvious signs: puffy cheeks, double chin (hiding his neck), rounder butt cheeks (used to be flat as a chopping board), and his head is filling the beanie hat now.

We are happy for this. Alhamdulillah.

Seri Alam Toastmasters Club

The Seri Alam Toastmasters Club is a continuity of MMHE Toastmasters Club. Established since 2005, as a company club it was open primarily to MMHE employees, while also accepting members from outside the workplace. It has gone one step further, and now it is a community club. Meaning, you can also be a member.

For the time being we are having the meetings in MMHE's office in Bandar Seri Alam (read: free venue), with the courtesy and support of MMHE.

Currently, yours truly is the Sergeant-At-Arms for the club. What is Toastmasters? Find out more about it here.

--------------------

Club Information
Club Number	00856876
Club Name	Seri Alam Toastmasters Club
Club contact phone	017 7151881
Club contact e-mail	wan@mmhe.com.my
Meeting Information
Meeting Day	1st & 3rd Thursday
Meeting Time	7:00 pm
Meeting Frequency	Twice a Month
Meeting Place 1	MMHE Seri Alam office
	Jalan Suria 2, Bandar Seri Alam, Masai
Meeting City	Johor Bahru
State	Johor
Zip	81700
Officer Terms	Annual
Advanced	No
Club Type	Community Club
Is your club	Open to all interested parties
Charter Date	12/01/2005

Aidilfitri 1430H 2009

(L to R): Adam, Nazahiya, Umar (on lap), Akmal Hizam, Marsya

Selamat Hari Raya from all of us.
Mohon maaf, zahir dan batin.

Ben 10 in Malay

Ben 10 was just starting on Cartoon Network over Astro that Raya morning. I was entertaining local kids coming over our house in Plentong. Without hesitation one of them said:

“Eh, tukar Bahasa Melayu lah”.

I did not know that it’s served bilingually. It did not matter to my children, and so we were not bothered with the technology. Five minutes later I heard Ben uttering Malay words.

Splendid. We learn something new every day.

Image copyright Turner Media Innovations

Evening Sky - 02.09.2009

I just had to stop at the roadside en route to Plentong when I saw the sky that evening.

It was fantastic.

Subhanallah.

Norzah the writer

He's an old hand when it comes to writing. Only this morning I discovered that he's been blogging since 2007.

He's my uncle, by way that his wife is Ibu's cousin. A retired government servant, I have high respect upon him. I still remember that morning while at the neighbourhood mamak shop buying things that Ibu asked me to buy. I caught a glimpse of his face on the front page of a newspaper (memory not so fantastic, can't recall which newspaper). I was only 9 at that time, and buying a newspaper was never in my shopping list. I bought that paper (instead of the usual Kiki chewing gums), for Uncle's face was on the front page giving his thoughts on something, as a somebody from MAMPU.

I guess he's one of my role models (also his wife, Aunty Bong) when I was growing up. You know, a kampung boy (and girl) who went to further their studies in universities overseas, hold high ranks in government, successful, makes folks at home proud. Drives a Volvo. That sort of thing.
Only very much later I found out that he's an avid writer. He gave me a thick novel as a gift when I visited him after I graduated. A Malay novel that he wrote - Saga.

As a tribute, I put his blog link in my blogroll. Love to read your thoughts, Uncle.

Eid Mubarak 1430H

Here’s wishing all of you:

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

Mohon maaf, lahir dan batin

Have a blessed Eid Mubarak.

Enjoy your festive holiday wherever you are, and come back safely.

greeting graphics taken from Institut Memandu Bunga Raya pamphlet

Masjid Abu Bakar Johor Bahru

It’s been my favourite masjid in Johor Bahru since I first stepped into its courtyard. That was 19 years ago, when my cousin steered his van with us inside for our solat, en route to Singapore.

The architecture and finishing of the masjid is amazing, while being simple. The black small domes are distinctive, and I really like the brass fittings adorning its white doors and windows.

I would never miss the chance to go for solat Jumaat in this very place, and 3 weeks ago I did. The parking space is always crowded, so I went there quite early. Parked only at the sides of the entrance way, to ensure my easy way out after the solat. While it may seem that the masjid would be congested, it is actually not so. There’s ample space. Another thing I like about it is that there’s an array of water faucets for ablution along the covered pavement leading towards the side entrances. Seldom I have to queue for my turn.

These facts below I gathered from an information board erected on the masjid grounds:

• Located atop Bukit Kecil, overseeing Selat Tebrau. You can see Singapore from here, and the view is simply breathtaking.
• Construction took 8 years to finish, sice 1893, costing $400,000. I’m not sure whether the sum is based on current value, or the amount at the time of construction. If it is from 1893, that’s an awful lot of money.
• First opened in 2^nd February 1900, officiated with a solat Jumaat.
• The marbles are from Italy.
• The mimbar is from Turkey.

No info on the sparkling chandelier, though.

Photo by Pasha Razak Photography

Ikea raya ad

Fuhh... makin bertambah lawa rumah kampung kat Juasseh.
Mak Lang pun sekarang ni nampak makin berseri-seri.

Err... agak2 Ikea nak amik aku buat commercial utk hias rumah Ibu kat Senawang pulak tak?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n95qbcMaQIM

ehh... tapi macam bukan rumah arwah atuk je tu. rumah sapa eh? Uwan Acik ko?

kemaskini 14.09.2009:
Setolah berburak dongan Ibu, rumah yang dalam iklan tu sebona'eh rumah dokek Gombak yo... sobab eh, rumah kek Joseh tu tongah di renovate buat tompek mandi ngan tandeh.

Umar is a week old today

I guess I'm like any other young parents with their new babies.

What I observe is that when you ask these young parents (usually for their first and second child) 'How old is your baby now?', they would almost invariably give you the answer in term of days (some with hours).
2 weeks and 3 days.
4 months and 15 days.
9 days and 4 hours.

Perhaps I am still a young parent...

Anyway, I am recollecting my skills in handling Umar. I'm glad that I found myself able to handle his fragile body - change nappies, his (now) baggy clothings, and bottle feed him.

One thing I'm still struggling to keep up with: sleep deprivation.

Above all, we are truly grateful for he is a no-fuss baby. Alhamdulillah for this blessing, and numerous others, so far within this 6 days and 22 hours.

Announcing the Arrival of Umar Bin Akmal Hizam

Alhamdulillah, praise and gratitude to Allah swt for His unending blessings bestowed upon us.

About 12 hours ago, at 11:26 am our latest addition to the family has arrived.
Our dear Umar was born via cesarean section, weighing 2.1 kg at Puteri Specialist Hospital, Johor Bahru.

He appeared to be in a surprisingly healthy and normal state, despite being brought in earlier than scheduled. Well, we plan but Allah's plan is greater. Naza is now recovering and resting in the hospital.

I'm a bit tired now, but my heart is filled with happiness. And so I found myself typing out these words for the world to know.

We had pictures of Umar taken by the hospital personnel (thanks very much!), right from his entry to this world, out from the comfort of his mommy's womb. Will be uploaded soon, insyaAllah.

Please welcome, Umar Bin Akmal Hizam.
Let us pray that he grows to be a good Muslim. Ameen.

Sunscreen song

Heard this song this morning on the radio. Been more than 10 years since I last hear it. Some are good advice, the rest, up to you to judge.

It’s actually a newspaper article eventually turned into a song.

Original article (now lyrics) by Mary Schmich of Chicago Tribune.

The quite interesting history of the ‘song’ is here:

• http://www.bondon.com/sunscreen_song.html
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_Sunscreen

=====================

Lyrics:

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ’97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss.

Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch.

Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't.

Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You'll miss them when they're gone.

Maybe you'll marry, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce at 40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own.

Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don't follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.

Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel.

Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don't expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don't mess too much with your hair or by the time you're 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

setem?

Amri is my elder brother.

Oman is my cousin’s son.

Amri: Oman, bak sini email address.

Oman: Ada tiga. Nak yang mana?

Me: Fuhh… banyak tu…

Amri: Bagi je lah yang mana2 selalu check. Bagi semua pun boleh.

Me: Oman, pernah tengok setem tak?

Oman: Setem? Apa tu?

Me & Amri: duhh…

I hope he knows what a Post Office is. But then again, kids nowadays might think that the PO is now a place for paying bills and other stuff not directly related to sending letters.