Thursday, July 26, 2007

August 11th - at the Darul Izzah Orphanage.

Dear All,

I am back in Kuala Lumpur, and it really feels great to be home. There is just no place like home.

This is a reminder to all who are interested to join me for the visit to the Darul Izzah Orphanage on August 11th, 2007. The programme is as below :

- 10.30am : Arrivals, and Majlis suai kenal
- 12.30am : Lunch / penyerahan Sumbangan
- 01.30pm : Solat Dzuhur & Majlis membaca Yasin
- 02.30pm : Bersurai

Harap ramai yang dapat datang.

Sila beri jawapan / confirmation of your attendance by Aug 4th.
you may call me at 016 6736723.


sekian terimakasih.

idham
Posted by at 32 comments:

August 11th - at the Darul Izzah Orphanage.

Dear All,

I am back in Kuala Lumpur, and it really feels great to be home. There is just no place like home.

This is a reminder to all who are interested to join me for the visit to the Darul Izzah Orphanage on August 11th, 2007. The programme is as below :

- 10.30am : Arrivals, and Majlis suai kenal
- 12.30am : Lunch / penyerahan Sumbangan
- 01.30pm : Solat Dzuhur & Majlis membaca Yasin
- 02.30pm : Bersurai

Harap ramai yang dapat datang.

Sila beri jawapan / confirmation of your attendance by Aug 4th.
you may call me at 016 6736723.


sekian terimakasih.

idham
Posted by at 33 comments:

Friday, July 20, 2007

Still counting...Tag for Charity!

My KL number from July 24th is....016 6736723.
Pls call, untuk confirm kedatangan ke Darul Izzah.
.
.
Latest update.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in this tag for charity for a good cause - to bring "Rainbows of hope to the DarulIzzah orphanage". When I counted this for the final count, there are 214 bloggers who have done the tags and who have informed me about it.
This is an invitation to join me at the DarulIzzah Orphanage on August 11th for Lunch, and solat Dzhuur berjemaah and majlis membaca Yasin.
There will not be any games .....!
.
I really am touched by the generous spirit of fellow bloggers. An amount of RM27178.00 will be handed over to the management of Darul Izzah Orphanage, on your behalf on Aug 11th. It would be really great to see some of you there on the day.
.
May God bless you!
.
ps : I have enabled moderation for comments to stop unwanted comments from coming in which can tarnish the spirit of giving and trusting for a good cause.
---------end of latest update.------------------------------
.
.
.
.
ORIGINAL ENTRY DATED 19th June 2007, below.
Sambungan kepada tag for charity drive......sila baca the latest update.....
I spoke with Cik Liza of Darul Izzah Orphanage and we have agreed the date of visit to be 11th August - a Saturday. <====earlier than previously mentioned. So, we will end this tag/meme by end of 20th July. Ok kan?
The programme tentatively will include magic show, clown, treasure hunt, main games sukaneka, dan lunch beramai2.......semua activities akan di ada kan di Darul Izzah Orphanage, Bangi.
We need a few more things in order to make it a memorable day for the 41 children (all boys) aged from 7 to 17....and for the six staff who have given their dedicated best effort looking after the needs of the children.
We need...
1. Volunteers to come on the day to host the activities. I will coordinate for us to hv a short briefing meeting once I am back in KL after 1st August nanti.
2. Any one can recommend a good magic show and a good clown. Better still if we can get people to volunteer to do this...or do this for minimal fees.
3. Lunch will be served ....so please let me confirm your attendance.
So, please let me know if you know someone who can take a catering order for about 100 people....plus full catering service? <====dah dapat dah, courtesy of Umie...TQ.
4. Looking for anyone with experience in organizing party games......please put up your hand...:)
5. Last but not least....I am inviting for you to please be there on the day. Please let me know...so that we can plan accordingly.
Any volunteer for a project manager? Sila email kepada saya ye...
So, far we have the following bloggers listed below who have already responded generously to the tag for charity drive.
To everyone, I wish to say a sincere thank you....In the end charity is less about what we give with our hand, but it is more of what we give with our heart. And I salute all of you....who have given generously with your heart....:)
We need more....
I plan to print and bind all the memes / tags and present them to the Darul Izzah residents for kenangan2......
So, please encourage your friends to do this tag.....!
I am excited....and I invite you to join me at the Darul Izzah Orphanage on August 11th at 10am.
Thank you for your contribution.......MasyaAllah...SubhaNAllah...ramai rakan2 blogger yang menyumbang......!
The target is at least 100,
"katakan boleh!"
3. pB
47. gee
49. ween
52. azreen
53. adah
55. azwan
57. Tyrexia
64. RaD
70. syana
71. nJ
73. rd
77. Jie
79. Toped
84. Raiyan
85. Kelana
89. Manal
92. nen
94. Ann
103.Helena
107. HalWafy
109.Olab
110.i-lyn
111.Zakiah
121. HanyFF
123. 13may
124. LuKLuk
126. Ummi
133.Dyanna
140.MISSY
141.Mynie
143.lyana
146.Zewt
148.Tine
152.miszunderstood ( to update link later )
153.Qimy
154.noul
155.shai
156.BaiTi
158.Hasnan
160.MH
161.Elf
163.yunik
165.ARI
166.Amy
172.NaD
173.
174.
175.
176.
177.
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
196.
197.
198.
199.
201.
202.
203.
204.
205.
206.
207.
208.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.
214.
There are 214 tags!!! What an outstanding show of support.......Thank you all!
I will be adding the rest of the contributors to the list- slowly but surely....!
"May your wish come true and your prayers be answered!"
Posted by at 185 comments:

Still counting...Tag for Charity!

My KL number from July 24th is....016 6736723.
Pls call, untuk confirm kedatangan ke Darul Izzah.
.
.
Latest update.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in this tag for charity for a good cause - to bring "Rainbows of hope to the DarulIzzah orphanage". When I counted this for the final count, there are 214 bloggers who have done the tags and who have informed me about it.
This is an invitation to join me at the DarulIzzah Orphanage on August 11th for Lunch, and solat Dzhuur berjemaah and majlis membaca Yasin.
There will not be any games .....!
.
I really am touched by the generous spirit of fellow bloggers. An amount of RM27178.00 will be handed over to the management of Darul Izzah Orphanage, on your behalf on Aug 11th. It would be really great to see some of you there on the day.
.
May God bless you!
.
ps : I have enabled moderation for comments to stop unwanted comments from coming in which can tarnish the spirit of giving and trusting for a good cause.
---------end of latest update.------------------------------
.
.
.
.
ORIGINAL ENTRY DATED 19th June 2007, below.
Sambungan kepada tag for charity drive......sila baca the latest update.....
I spoke with Cik Liza of Darul Izzah Orphanage and we have agreed the date of visit to be 11th August - a Saturday. <====earlier than previously mentioned. So, we will end this tag/meme by end of 20th July. Ok kan?
The programme tentatively will include magic show, clown, treasure hunt, main games sukaneka, dan lunch beramai2.......semua activities akan di ada kan di Darul Izzah Orphanage, Bangi.
We need a few more things in order to make it a memorable day for the 41 children (all boys) aged from 7 to 17....and for the six staff who have given their dedicated best effort looking after the needs of the children.
We need...
1. Volunteers to come on the day to host the activities. I will coordinate for us to hv a short briefing meeting once I am back in KL after 1st August nanti.
2. Any one can recommend a good magic show and a good clown. Better still if we can get people to volunteer to do this...or do this for minimal fees.
3. Lunch will be served ....so please let me confirm your attendance.
So, please let me know if you know someone who can take a catering order for about 100 people....plus full catering service? <====dah dapat dah, courtesy of Umie...TQ.
4. Looking for anyone with experience in organizing party games......please put up your hand...:)
5. Last but not least....I am inviting for you to please be there on the day. Please let me know...so that we can plan accordingly.
Any volunteer for a project manager? Sila email kepada saya ye...
So, far we have the following bloggers listed below who have already responded generously to the tag for charity drive.
To everyone, I wish to say a sincere thank you....In the end charity is less about what we give with our hand, but it is more of what we give with our heart. And I salute all of you....who have given generously with your heart....:)
We need more....
I plan to print and bind all the memes / tags and present them to the Darul Izzah residents for kenangan2......
So, please encourage your friends to do this tag.....!
I am excited....and I invite you to join me at the Darul Izzah Orphanage on August 11th at 10am.
Thank you for your contribution.......MasyaAllah...SubhaNAllah...ramai rakan2 blogger yang menyumbang......!
The target is at least 100,
"katakan boleh!"
3. pB
47. gee
49. ween
52. azreen
53. adah
55. azwan
57. Tyrexia
64. RaD
70. syana
71. nJ
73. rd
77. Jie
79. Toped
84. Raiyan
85. Kelana
89. Manal
92. nen
94. Ann
103.Helena
107. HalWafy
109.Olab
110.i-lyn
111.Zakiah
121. HanyFF
123. 13may
124. LuKLuk
126. Ummi
133.Dyanna
140.MISSY
141.Mynie
143.lyana
146.Zewt
148.Tine
152.miszunderstood ( to update link later )
153.Qimy
154.noul
155.shai
156.BaiTi
158.Hasnan
160.MH
161.Elf
163.yunik
165.ARI
166.Amy
172.NaD
173.
174.
175.
176.
177.
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
196.
197.
198.
199.
201.
202.
203.
204.
205.
206.
207.
208.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.
214.
There are 214 tags!!! What an outstanding show of support.......Thank you all!
I will be adding the rest of the contributors to the list- slowly but surely....!
"May your wish come true and your prayers be answered!"
Posted by at 183 comments:

Tagged!! - for charity!!

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 18TH June 2007
I have now completed my own meme!






Rumah anak yatim ini memerlukan bus untuk penghuni2, di samping sumbangan untuk pengendalian harian. I am inviting you to participate together with me. For every person who complete this meme before August 26th, I will contribute rm127 on your behalf to the Darul Izzah Orphange, Bangi.

I have been tagged before. Depending on the type of tags....and on my mood at the time, it can be fun too. This time, I created a meme for charity... and you can start the ball rolling. My aim is to collect at least rm10,000 worth of meme/tags from bloggers - now, can you do it!??

I am cool. Are you cool?

Okey, this is the rule.
If you are tagged, you need to write an entry related to the meme. At the end of your entry you just need to tag as many person as you like. You will then leave a comment in their blog to let them know they have been tagged. And to include this message, "By doing this meme you are contributing rm127 to the Darul Izzah Orphanage".

Then please copy and paste this rule somewhere in your entry.

The meme is about completing at least seventeen out of the following twenty seven sentences........ *These can be copied and pasted to your entry*

1. A person is only as good as what he takes with him in death, and what he left behind him in his life.
2. Friendship is always 'we'.

3. To love is to please voluntarily, to give generously, to compromise willingly, and most of all to forgive before being asked for forgiveness.
4. Money makes me dreams.
5. I miss the smell of grass after rain!
6. My way of saying I care is by giving the best part of me.
7. I try to spread love and happiness by blowing bubble gums with the children.
8. Pick the flowers when they are in your own garden!
9. To love someone is to give........the best that you have!
10. Beauty is best admired from a distance!
11. When I was thirteen, what I remember the most was loneliness!
12. When I was twenty one, I remember loneliness!
13. I am most happy when I am switching off my light at night!
14. Nothing makes me happier than slipping under the duvet, cuddling up to you!
15. If I can change one thing, I will change time, to move more slowly.....!
16. If smiles were that easy then I wish more people would smile more readily!
17. Wouldn't it be nice if we could be loved for no reasons.
18. If you want to dream then you have to sleep!
19. Money is not everything but it sure does feel good to have plenty of it!
20. The most touching moments I have experienced is holding them in my arms...and say the first azan to their ears....all six of them!
21. I smile when I talk on the phone!
22. When I am happy, I feel like I can move mountains.
23. If only I don't have to pay my bills then I will spend time by the waterfalls all day long with a book in my hand, and you by my side!
24. The best thing I did yesterday today was spending time in Mecca!
25. If I ever write a book, I will give it this title,"Anti-clock wise"
26. One thing I must do before I die is repent!
27. Doing this meme, I feel like I have completed what I started!

Now I will kick this off by tagging a few of my blog friends. If I can't get any of these people to do it....then what hope have I got in achieving my goal.....of having 100 people completing this meme before 26th August!.
As a way of choosing the first few friends to do this, I have selected those who have left comments in my previous entry title, "Lost and Found".
Raden Galoh, Onde Onde, dlt, Babe, kaklong, zlaa, zakiah, maklang, anggerik merah.

But since this is a "Tag for Charity" I am extending the invitation to everyone as well at the same time ........

When you have done yours, please leave a comment in here - so that I can keep count. Thanking you in advance !



Why lost and found? Because.....Orphans are children who have all lost at least one of their parents or both. Nothing can bring their parents back......

But, we can help them to find happiness. Our little act of generousity can go a long way.

It will be interesting to see how this meme travels, and how much will I be bringing to the orphans at the DIO on behalf of bloggers on August 26th this year.




*Note to Simah and D.....I have edited this entry based on your comments. From a no purpose meme as you rightly pointed out, I have converted it to a meme for charity. Thanks for your insightful comments which has made me think and taken a different route. I keep your first two comments on the entry, just to give the context to readers.

I hope I have changed from glass being half empty to being half full. Thanks to both of you for prompting the thinking.


I hope my intention will not be misconstrued. Tak de niat lain selain beramal jariah ....dengan ihlas.


---I have added the following poem by Nancy Kaywork.----


An Orphan’s Prayer
Each night before I go to bed

I fold my hands and bow my head

Praying for a family and the day she will come for me

I ask God to watch over my friends at the orphanage,

The place that I call home

Wishing we find families and rooms of our very own.

I finish my prayers and climb into bed

Hoping that God heard what I said.

My prayers usually turn out to be my dreams at night

Hoping she will be standing there when I wake to the morning light.

One very special morning, I will hear their call,

I jump out of bed and run down the hall!

Is it her, Is it her, is that why they’ve called my name?

Running I hear them shout “It’s her, it’s her, she finally came!”

Have all my prayers been answered,

have all my dreams come true

There she is in front of me, Oh Mama! Oh Mama!! Is it really you?
“Yes, it is my darling, I’ve come to take you home,”

“I will love, protect and cherish and you will never be alone.“

Mama looks at me so differently a look so new to me,

She touches me so gently, just as I dreamed it would be.

As I look into her eyes I watch them fill with water,

She embraces me and whispers,

"I love you so my daughter”.

She takes my hand and I hold it tight,

I will never let it go, I hold with all my might.

Hand in hand we walk together,

No one needs to speak;

we know this is forever.

And through our journey when we finally meet each other,

She will have found her dream and I will have found my mother.

Posted by at 232 comments:

Monday, July 16, 2007

Saying farewell to friends in Jeddah...




At 3pm on July 16th and located in the auditorium, people in the Jeddah office gathered to say goodbye to me.

The Chairman opened up with his speech, one interspersed with humorous account of my time in Arabia and his tribute for what he sees as my legacies. He was generous with his compliments...Thank you Mr Z!

I was presented with a very nice delicate Persian carpet. A truly beautiful piece. A huge cake to cut and be shared with everyone......afterall, a farewell is about bringing closure to wonderful time we have shared together.

Below is the text of my speech.

PARTING WITH FRIENDS…..
- Farewell is hard. Even harder when saying goodbye to people dear to my heart. I thank you for being here today.
- Today, at this farewell I have an opportunity to introduce Mr R who is not only my successor but my new found friend. Please welcome Mr R! I ask of you to extend you support to Ranjay as you have given me.
- I have composed a poem for you and will read and speak alternatively.

By the Cornichee of the Red Sea
I sat thinking of what to say
Four years filled with fond memories
Not easy to say goodbye – on this day

I‘ve seen the sun of dawn and dusk
Of hopes and dreams and a dissappearing past
I hope I can freeze the frames
Of happier times of us as friends.

I sat there watching sea gulls fly
Listening to rolling waves of the ocean roar
It pains my heart to bid goodbye
Setting sails to a distant shore.

I never know to bid farewell
In swollen hearts and words that tell
for yesterday holds so much more
and so much more, to close the door.

I will think of you in happier sun
of smiles and cheer, and days of fun
I’ll frame times we have shared together
And cherish your kindness with the Kingdom’s splendour.



- Joining this company and living in Saudi is a dream come true for my family and I. As I have told a few people – it all started during a Haj pilgrimage in Feb 2003. My wife and I had a yearning to come and live in Saudi and be close to Mekah and Medinah – and our prayer was answered when in Sept of the same year we started living in Jeddah.
- The hardest part of this goodbye is about leaving friends. And I want to thank you all for having taken my family and I as you friend.
- Mahdi, Mohd Ali, Mussa……
- The HR team – we will have a dinner together on Wednesday.
- Mr L, for being a personal and professional colleague
- Board colleagues
- Mr Z, who has been an inspiration ( as well as source of perspiration ) for me.
- My first dinner with the chairman Mr Z in April 2004 in Jeddah Hilton was where he shared his vision for Arabia “Double growth rate, 1billion dollars in 2010”. He sketched his grand plan on a napkin while he had salad and I was having steak for dinner.
- This next para is dedicated to you Mr Z.

Leaving footprints on desert sand
Successes we weaved with extended hands
Memories we created from shared dreams
Experiencing life’s tapestry of love and grieve
in yesterday, through thick and thin
will come to rest to my heart within.

- There are many things which have given me pride and satisfaction during the four years.
- Arabia business is a unique one when it comes to diversity with 34 different nationalities
- Arabization / Saudization continue to be a high priority – a balance at the same time with being able to co-exist and interdepence with expat talents.
- I have tried my best ; but one of my regret remains that I could have done more in localization.
- However, it is satisfying to see managers / leaders like Muhanned Hilal, Rayan, Omar Najjar, Assaf, Amer, Ahmad Babtin just to mention a few - blossoming and progressing in their career.

From the deepest part of my secret heart
nestled within, among the things—
precious and dear, that sweet life brings.
For on this day, breathe soft and tender
we so like birds of a different summer
by Fate to flock and soon shall flight
and find our homes in distant light.

If I should spare my sadness and tears
sorrow felt and silent fears
it is not that I fail to feel
this burning yearn that cannot heal
and memories of you close to my heart
whisper—that though we part
in coming day of far away;
I’ll be watching you fly – going for the sky!

- The last part of this poem is dedicated to all of you.
- You have made these four years – the best for my family and I.

and while:
I await the day, on a different land
For us to meet, to hold your hand
We’ll talk of friends we common know
Of better days and this new tomorrow
When this chapter of me comes to close
shed not a tear on sorrow prose
but turn the page, this is not the end
for we had come as strangers, and left as friends.

- On behalf of my wife and myself – I say thank you!
Posted by at 14 comments:
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