Farewell mentor

I've often believed that as I travel through life, I'm bound to cross paths with someone special who will leave an impression in my life. And if I'm lucky, I might strike a long and lasting friendship with such a character lasting for decades. Benefiting much from the relationship physically, mentally and spiritually.

I met with such a person, nearly 2 decades ago... a postgraduate student who arrived in bonny Edinburgh late autumn with his wife and 3 kids. Over the years in Edinburgh, my friends and I have regarded him as more than just the provider of our weekly usrah. He was our friend, our mentor and our point of reference with regards to many things in life. He was our brother who was wise and generous with what he had. And we will definitely miss the friendship and wisdom of the man affectionately known to us as Ustaz Din.

- Dr Hj Zainuddin Jaafar, may Allah have mercy on your soul. Al Fatihah.

One lazy , gravity-defying Saturday afternoon

No 5

No 4

No 3

No 2

No 1

Altogether now

Happy Father's Day

Years and years ago, sometime back in the early 90s, I came across a poem in an article in the New Straits Times. There was however no title nor name of the poet that had written it. Drawn by its simplicity and clever use of metaphor, I immediately cut out the poem and have kept it for the past 16 odd years.

I took it out today and like any newspaper clipping kept over a long period of time, mine has now turned yellow, almost brown in fact.... but still intact.

"If there be a garden with blooms aplenty

But not the buzz of a single bee

Be it fresh and bright from morn ' to morn

Yet is it not lifeless without some sound?

For it is the way with Mother Nature

The humming bee completes the overture

So tell me not, dear ladies and friends

That we can live without our men

A day, a week... perhaps we can

But come a month, that is the end

We yearn and long for his caress

With him, we enjoy the comfort of our nest

Without him, ecstasy is never at its best."

****

To F my best bud... partner in crime... "along"...mr fixit...gadget-man...driver...court jester... DVD provider etc etc...

"HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!"

Father's Day dinner at Sunway Pyramid

The Holy Land

About 2 weeks ago, a few colleagues, a neighbour and a friend from primary school left to perform their umrah with their respective families. Seeing a few of them leave and having conversations with them prior to their journey, has left me feeling very nostalgic indeed.

It was exactly a year ago when I too had the priviledge of visiting the Holy Land. And I've often wondered since then, when my next visit would be. Sometimes in quiet moments alone, I'd have flashbacks of my time spent in Madinah and Mecca. I'm reminded of the prayers performed in the two great mosques and the feeling of calm and tranquility felt there. Often I'd find myself wishing I was back in Masjidil Haram, amongst the sea of people performing the tawaf or listening to the melancholic call of the azan beckoning all to perform the solat. I look forward and can't wait for the time when I'm given the opportunity to return to these two holy cities again. And I certainly hope that it wouldn't be too long of a wait.

WOULDN"T IT BE NICE

Wouldn't it be nice

to be left alone

in the bliss of quiet solitude,

to set the mind free

of worries that be

which plagues this self of mine.

Wouldn't it be nice

to walk out that door

and leave this empty room,

for far distant places

with many new faces

and return

like a rose in full bloom.

Chaos

Life has been pretty chaotic for the past couple of months...and off late I've been feeling very exhausted and frustrated. This unwelcomed change of lifestyle, imposed by the recent change of events has very much turned my life upside down, with very little time left for me to indulge in my "Me" things.

I miss the quiet afternoons when I used to be able to catch up with my multiple readings.... (3 books read around the same period of time)... or how about just lazing in front of the TV at 3pm with remote control in hand and watching snippets of Ellen or My Max-ed programmes recorded a couple of days before. And one thing for sure, I most certainly miss (and I'm saying this with a capital M)... blogging.

The last post was about 2 months ago... and I haven't written anything since. Thus this very dead blog needs to be resurrected and I plan to do so ASAP. Yes... I will do that the moment there is some semblance of order in my life. ;)

Reunion at Rojak-Rojak

Ever since the date was set, I've been thinking about it almost everyday. What would everyone look like? Would I be able to recognise them? Would they be able to recognise me? What would I say to all of them when finally face to face? After all, 25 years is a very long time...



Yes, after weeks of planning, discussing dates and venues and coordinating with everyone... the reunion finally took place this afternoon. There was much laughter of course, as everyone recounted the past... recalling events as far back as 30 years ago. Old pictures were produced and animated conversation took place as we tried to recall names of ex-classmates and teachers. Some names easily rolled off our tongues, whilst others needed a bit more recollection. We definitely had a laugh looking at the pictures; the ridiculous poses and our 80s fashion sense.



Within the span of 3 hours, past events which have remained locked in the recesses of our minds for many many years were mentioned once more, resulting in peals of laughter. We recalled being used as messengers by two teachers who wanted to send notes (love notes??) to each other. We remembered a certain pencil accident which resulted in a slight spill of blood in standard one. And we certainly never forgot the nenek kebayan toilet stories that used to haunt us back at school.

Twenty-five years have passed, some things have definitely changed, but the familiarity of friendship and camaraderie have remained the same.

FBB's 2 days visa

(tq Fauzi B, Fauzee T, Fauzi I and Rizal for making the journey north to see Yassin, Shahrin, Inaz, Huda, Siti and I here in KL)

Though we have gone our separate ways,

the memories are here to stay,

Of cherished thoughts that fill our hearts

Till the last moments when we part.
******