They were here!

They were here!
After a year from the date we visited them in Dublin they came visiting this week.
They were here as part of a re-union for the family of Dr M - with his parents and brothers gathered in Dubai. Despite their busy schedule, we appreciate the two nights they were able to spend at our home. A pleasure and an honour!
The picture below was taken at last night's dinner with Dr M's parents and siblings. Dr M had a wish to have steak for dinner - a yearning due to lack of 'Halal' steak in Dublin.
(At the far end of the table was Dr M partly hidden, KD in white tudung, and facing her was LiL with my 'umrah hair' next to LiL. NAMI and Luqman next to each other at the head table).






Luqman and NAMI
It was so heart warming for all of us to see Luqman and NAMI renewing their friendship which was started in Dublin a year ago - when we were guests at KD's home. As soon as they finished their dinner, which we noticed they had rushed through, they both disappeared from the dining table. We soon found them on the bay of a window overlooking the Ski Dubai.
The young English lady was a spectator to two young hearts in all of their innocence nurturing a friendship separated by distance but renewed by fond memories of yesterdays and shared optimism for tomorrow. I envied the young lady - for I wished I could have witnessed their conversation.

The adults raced away!
We had an exciting time at the Dubai Autodrome this morning - Go Karting away. Dr M and KD were neck to neck, cheek to cheek from start to finish. No, it was not due to others giving way - but simply they were better at taking corners! hehehehe.....and legally too.
But in the end, the guys decided to share the first place podium for a photo pose! That is sportsmanship for you.....

From Blog Friends to Family Friends!

It does not matter where and how friendship begun - what matters is how it ends. And hopefully ours will never end. They were the first people whom LiL and I have extended our invitation to our silver wedding jubilee at the end of this year.

To carry the legacies forward!

For NAMI and Luqman, may they both find enough reasons to stay good friends.

Distance will get in the way again and again. But for as long as they are able to believe in the magic of twinkling stars - no distance will ever be too far!

Tomorrow we'll say goodbye to KD and her family as they board the plane back to wet and windy Dublin. But in their faraway home - there will always be warmth. For that is what they carry with them anywhere they are. Warmth and love for everyone!

Tomorrow they may be gone- but fond memories will forever stay!

Lessons from a green Beetle!

My eldesy son, Adie, has been working for a week now. His office is a 10 minutes diversion from mine, so everyday for the past week I sent him to work and in the evening picked him up. But today he braved himself into driving our green beetle - by trailing me for direction.
No drama there!
In the evening, just before I left the office I called him, "Are you ok to drive alone or do you want me to wait?" I asked him, despite having told him in the morning that I was leaving early today.
"I am ok, ayah balek lah. See you at home" He tried to sound confident, but an ayah can sense the anxiety in his voice.

On the spur of the moment I decided to be there - in the shadow and follow him without him knowing. "I will follow him, just in case he lose his direction" I told LiL when I called her to say I will be late afterall.

I drove to where he parked the green beetle and parked myself out of sight. I reclined the seat to ensure I could not be seen. Then the waiting game started....
"I feel like a private investigator!" I sent a sms to LiL.
I tried to call a couple of friends.....their numbers were either busy or left unanswered. Perhaps they were stuck in traffic jam.
Then from the corner of my eyes I saw him approaching his car. I ducked lower....
He opened the car door and glanced around....I ducked even lower. I counted to twenty....and took a peep at his green beetle. It was gone...!!! Holy Mackerel......The car I was stalking were gone!!!

At that point I called LiL, " Dia dah hilang!"
"HAHAHAHA ....." LiL laughed, loud and got louder by the minutes.

I drove back - feeling a bit like a fool. *only a bit* hehehehe.
I reassured myself that 'Along' has a mobile and can call if he needs direction. I also checked this morning that the fuel tank was half full. On top of that I have shown him a few routes for the last one week, including the one which I missed a turn and had to make a U-turn a few kilometers out.

I arrived home to LiL's warm embrace at the door. "What happened?" She enquired, in the most symphathetic of tones. At that moments all my stress and tension of missing 'along' dissappeared.
"Spy malang....." I quipped. And we laughed together.

I was having dinner on the terrace when I saw the green beetle coming into our parking. A triumphant 'Along' came out and made a Victory sign!!! "I made it!!!" He shouted from below. From the terrace above LiL and I applauded.
"Well Done Along!"

When he came up to join me, I asked, "Which route did you take?"
"The one which I ayah had to take the U-turn!" He laughed. He too missed a turn.

lesson #1.
I have to learn to trust 'Along' and let him fly. To step aside and let him live his life....
lesson #2.
"If you duck too low, you may miss the game! If you stick out too high, you are an easy shot! .... the trick is to get the right balance"
lesson #3.
Coming home to a warm embrace wipes all the stress away! <---this one is for the wife. hehehehe
lesson #4.
If you show your child the wrong way, even if unintended, he may follow it! So be careful with what you do.....

About Leading.....

Leadership requires
- IQ ( academic )
IQ will get a person through the door, this is a minimum qualification. It does not gurantee or differentiate the quality of leadership. What this assure is that the person can count, can read, and can write. He or she most likely is also able to reason with logics and analyze complexities and simplicities alike.

- EQ ( social skill and self awareness, emotional intelligence )
EQ differentiate leaders. Those with lower EQ are often unaware of their impact on people around them. As an example, a leader with low EQ may sleep in meeting without realizing that he is giving negative signals to others in the audience. He may lack ability to network and socialize with his national and international counterparts - resulting in ineffective leadership. A leader with high EQ are always present - physically, spiritually and emotionally. He does not abandon his citizens in difficulty or in festivity. He will be there in flesh and in a flash whenever there are natural calamities, be it flood or plights (of the his subjects).

- Ability to envision, influence and implement.
If there is a need he is able to come up with his own vision for the betterment of his subjects. When a vision ( 2020 ) is already exisiting, he picks it up and waste no time in implementing that vision. Effective leaders bring positive outcome - better employment opportunities, more prosperous lives to his subjects, positive perception internationally, and a sense of security and well being. Ineffective leaders bring chaos, stress, sadness, panic, and a sense of inadequacy. True measures are economics , quality of life and crime rate barometers.

- PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY
He who wants to be an effective leader MUST Walk the Talk. If he talks about anti corruption, he must demostrate in words and in deeds that he is indeed anti corruption and has zero tolerance towards such behaviour. If he talks about Islam Hadhari - he and his family are the best examples of such values. If he talks about serving others, he make it a point not to serve himself and his close family members. Whatever he preaches - he practices. That is implicit in the word - LEADING!

Leadership is a choice one make - preferably motivated by a passion to do good for others, the people one lead.

Global Village...

For three months every year the globe descended in Dubai. China, Africa, Egypt, India and many more arrived in loads and lots - touching the hearts of Dubai residence and capturing their imagination into spending money. People come from near and far - jam packing car parks and enjoying the festival like ambience. It is the Global Village of Dubai!

We were there one evening - the same evening I received an SMS about Ben@zir Bhutt0's death. In fact we were having an Islamabad Beriyani at the Global Village when the SMS came in. How ironic......and tragic!

The sadness of the unexpected news aside - we had a jolly time enjoying more the ambience than any real shopping.

I am posting this belated entry to capture on record an evening - which could easily be lost with

fading of memories. An evening when a leader of democracy known to the world was killed - for standing up! *pardon the pun*

Demi Hijrah ini.....

Dengan restu Mu aku ke sini
satu Hijrah lagi.....
mencari pelabuhan di pesisir usia
meniti memori perjalanan berliku
hati meronta di gurun berdebu
tapak-tapak di pasir semakin pudar
angin menderu membawa khabar
"Demi Masa! (1) Sesungguhnya manusia itu dalam kerugian;
(2) Kecuali orang-orang yang beriman dan beramal soleh dan
mereka pula berpesan-pesan
dengan kebenaran serta berpesan-pesan
dengan sabar."
Ketika kita di selimut bunga-bunga mimpi
bintang-bintang menyaksi.....
Sesunguhnya kita manusia yang rugi!
pengHijrahan ini
melewati persimpangan ke arah abadi
Sekian lama merantau menjejaki
berlari, merentasi, terus memburu
di celah-celah pasir dan batu
di warna warna pelangi dan permaidani
mencari punca simpulan mati
ingin membebaskan tambatan hati
yang buta, bisu dan tuli
yang inginkan itu dan ini.
Dengan restu Mu....aku ke sini
PengHijrahan merentasi
dari dunia fantasi ke dunia realiti
dari dunia realiti ke alam abadi
mencari pelabuhan di pesisir usia
buat sekian kalinya
"Demi masa........"
jangan kita kerugian buat selamanya.
PengHijrahan ini
pandulah kami
jejak kaki dan gerak hati
bicara kata dan naluri rasa
biarlah ada Mu di dalam mimpi
semoga damai di pelabuhan abadi
menemui Mu Ya Rabbi......
di suatu hari yang sudah pasti.

To usher in 2008 we were on the Jumeira Beach next to the iconic Burj Al Arab. For the special occassion to welcome 1429 Hijrah new year - we joined other Malaysian families camping overnight on the beach at the Hamriyah Port in Ajman. It was our first time camping out - and that too we chose a chilly cold night to do it. The fun started well before we got there, by means of pantun exchanges via emails between would be campers. Setting up tents were done with great enthusiasm - ours was one of the first to be up, and definitely the biggest - ample space for all six of us. A little thrilling moments when my Honda SUV got stuck in the sands. After four men power pushed it to safety, I used the opportunity to convince LiL for the 66th times that we need to buy a 4x4. She dusted the sand from my shoes, ruffled up my hair and said simply but firmly, "No!".

Perhaps, the most enchanting bits were the bonfire and BBQ. Each family brought a few bundles of firewood - at AED5 per bundle it was value for money for keeping us warm and giving us the much appreciated ambience. Having a bonfire going by the sea side - flickering of flames and rumbling of waves were just magical! I paused to reflect - it dawned on me that one of the main attractions of our lives in Dubai is this care-free fun life-styles which brought us back to our teen-age years. Moving in a pack - camping out, having picnics, doing BBQ, weekend's soccer games, pot-luck meals, or simply exchanging sms with friends such as "Jom - breakfast Puri sama2". And it happens! All fun and games of Malaysian in Dubai.

The BBQ was generous.....chicken wings, beef skewers and sausages were delicious. The children had a wonderful time roasting marsh-mallows. The fishersmen amongst us could not resist the call of the wild - and went fishing from the embankment.

For me, the half-hour we spent listening to Bro Hasnol's Tazkirah was very reflective and touching. His story about the Prophet's first Hijrah brought silent tears to my eyes. Sitting around the bon-fire, under an open sky, with the sound of rolling waves in the back ground made me realize how extra special we are to be alive - for yet another new year.

I was half asleep in my own tent when I heard voices and laughter of my friends - sharing instant noddles by the bonfire. I zipped my jacket on, and crawled out to join them. Nik's instant noodle that night was amongst the best I ever had at 2am. I noticed that Along was not in the tent. He confided the next day, he felt awkward to join us there - LiL, myself and the three younger boys. A point I took seriously and noted. He has grown up into a young man himself. The next time we go camping, we agreed to buy a smaller tent to give LiL and I privacy while the boys will be sharing the big one. Now, I may just hurry the next time, hehehehe!

Despite having little sleep - I felt so well rested. Maal Hijrah greeted us with a new possibilities and promises - and we greeted the new year of 1429 with new hopes!

di bawah bintang-bintang di tepi pantai Port Al Hamriyah.

malam Maal Hijrah.

1429.

She is having an Affair!

OMG ! LiL is having an affair.....with a Dato K.

I have been noticing that something was amiss. She has been missing from my sight at certain hours during the nights. This has been going on for the last one month. At first, I thought she left me on my own to give me space to blog and to surf. Then I thought she was knitting to finish the crochet work she has started. But when she keep missing at regular intervals, and always at night I began to have my suspicion.

So for the last two days, I was paying particular attention to make sure she remain by my side after dinner until after bedtime.
"Why don't you write your blog as usual?" At 9pm, she began to feel restless.
"No, I prefer to just spend some quality time with you?" I said, and moved closer to where she was seated.
"But I have a date ....." She said awkwardly.
"Well......what kind of date?" I have my eyes fixed on the super-sports channel.
"A date lah....with my Dato K" she said and added, "I know you don't like him. So why don't you blog or watch the sports channel while I go into the bedroom and spend time with Dato K".
"Errr.....ok, tiba2 jer ada Dato K mana la pulak u nih?"
"oK...Enjoy....see u later" She said and moved to our bedroom.

LiL is not the kind to go astray, nor would she keep any secret from me. So, after five minutes of her being gone, I switched off the TV in the family living room and tip-toed to the bedroom.
There she was comfortably leaning against the headboard of our King-size bed, in deep concentration watching the Plasma which was fixed onto the bedroom wall.
"Eh, mana Dato' K you?" I moved to snuggle next to her.
"Tu ......" She said, pointing with her pouting lips towards the Plasma TV.

When the pin finally dropped and I got to know the Dato' K she was referring to, we had a good laugh. Immediately, I confessed of my own affair with a Mrs B. But she said "Of course I know that. Everyone knows that. It is very obvious you are in love with Mrs B" And we continued laughing!

For the last one month, LiL has developed an addiction to the drama on the Korean KBS channel. Her Dato K came on air every night at 7 to 8 pm, 9 to 10pm and his last visit is at 11-12pm. While my affair with Mrs B seems to be endless, she is always on my mind.

Growing gracefully into the golden age together means having a good laughter at our own silly jokes! I supposed when we are entering into the year when we will be celebrating our silver anniversary ( Nov 2008 ), love for us also means allowing space for our better half ....to pursue his or her own little affairs. We are also lucky since there are also many affairs which we do pursue together......affairs with our own children being at the heart of it all.

"Ok....you continue lah dengan your Dato K....I want to log-on and update my Mrs B. There is a story I want to write about!".
"Hahahaha - I know what you are going to write. It is about this little affair thing isn't it!" She said, but with that little smile on her - a smile which always bring calmness to my sometimes hyper nerves.

Are you having an affair? Do you want to share the initial of your affair with other readers?

A woman got to do what a woman got to do!

I was online with a lady friend who just came back from her vacation with her family - ten days in Europe and also visiting her BIL in Dublin! There was something we have to plan since her BIL, a family friend of LiL and I will be visiting Dubai with his family. The conversation didn't get very far beyond the normal greetings......**updated: She and her husband met up with LiL and I over lunch today - to continue discussion on the plans for our esteemed visitors from Dublin. K.D, I am not allowed to write any details......**

I: "How are you?
N: "Tired...I need a break"
I: "A break?......haven't you just got back from one?"
N: "A break to recover after doing what a woman got to do - after the break!".

I excused myself saying that I wanted to write about "A woman got to do what a woman got to do" in my blog. She was quick to stress a point - that she was not complaining!


After a long vacation trip, all a man wants to do is to re-connect with his buddies to catch up on the local scenes and activities. A man enjoys sharing his vacation stories - emphasizing parts which will make his buddies salivate with awe and envy. Which parts? Of course depends on who the persons are. When a friend went on a trip to Germany about a month back, he came back with stories of attractive long legged things walking the streets! Upon prompting, his story ended with him being a cowardly gentleman who hid from the evil intention of those long legged blue eyed things. But here, I digress long and wide from my original intention to write about the plight of the fairer half - our ladies of the house!

After a similar long trip, all a woman cares to do is to bring everything and everyone back into order. While her children go wild over their newly acquired but hardly required gadgets - she breaks her back unpacking the luggage and dumping all clothes into the washing machine. While her husband leans back on his lazy chair making plans for games of golf with his buddies, she goes on her knees polishing the floor from dirt and dust. A woman's maternal instinct wants to see her nest back to what it should be - in good order for nesting, nurturing, feeding, resting...etc etc.....orderly, neat, tidy and ready!
In so doing, she wastes no time. Bedsheets must be changed, refrigerator be defrosted and filled with fresh supply, all toilets flushed and windows opened for fresh air to flow. A thousand and one things to remember - and she remembers them all methodically and do them all without grudge. Tired yes......! But always taken with a spirit of "A woman got to do what a woman got to do!".

LiL, has been a Cinderella of our own house ever since we moved into this new home. She has so far, refused to take a maid. Being the only one with a maternal instinct, while we boys and men tried our best to help, she has been the one who does the laundry, cooks our meals, mops and dusts, and cleans up after much fun at the dining table has been long gone. Such is the nature of a laborious and lonely struggle of a housewife's things to do - mundane chores, plenty to do, never done and often unappreciated. LiL too - has a silent resolve of doing what a woman got to do in a grateful manner for what we have rather than complaining for what it can be!

Driving back from our soccer game today - I agreed with the boys that every weekend, we the males of the house will cook a complete meals for a day for the family. That will be starting this coming weekend - and I am already excited with the possibilities of a five star menu!
"Kita masak apa ayah?" tanya Along.
"Amir book bahagian potong-potong" sampuk Amirul.
"I don't want to end doing the cleaning up - so please give me something to do too" Haziq thinking ahead.
"Ermm....last time I potong halia kan ayah....can i do the same?" asked Luqmn who has been in a deep thought.
By the time we reached home, we still could not decide what to cook. But we will have one whole week to plan.......hehehehe! And for me, a week of bonding conversations with the boys!
Life is like that - if you make it like that.
In the end - each of us got to do what each of us got to do! If only we open our eyes, ears, and heart to see - then decide to share.

60plus ...not yet 69!

Berita dari negara, di sini.Lalu aku pun menulis....

I wonder, what a 60 plus guy of good office thinking when he was doing it? I wonder, for that matter.....are there other 6o plus who is capable of doing such thing? Tak ader age limit kah untuk appetite 'makan luar'. Am I missing something here?? hehehehe. Afterall, to do such things require more than just bola-bola - it does require a presence of mind, a hard something, a Heart of Clubs, and a cheek as thick as one's wallet. I wonder, what attracts citizens of Venus to something yang sudah kereput dan kedut-kedut, dan mungkin dah pun semput semput??? No, I am not a sour grape! At fifty, I have to labour up the stairs to my bedroom....what more to be pumping and gasping for fresh air in hotel rooms!

I admire wives yang boleh memaafkan their men. I wrote about this in my previous entry - forgive before forgiveness is asked for. This is a hard test to pass - but a wife who can do so, surely is more dignified than any spectators who only know to blab bla blab from the side lines. So, my heart goes to the first lady of the pak menteri.....

But alas - I also admire men with bola-bola! To have done it surely proof in itself that one has cricket balls rather than ping-pongs ones. And to stand tall, admit and taking full responsibility is a good example in itself. I only wish others in good office take a page out of this debacle and learn! If such is the case - we should be busy with by-erections elections! Yes or No?

Hey, it is illegal to copy, trade or view video clips of such acts! hehehe......don't bother looking for it! Harammmmmm.

Starting the year....

I left 2007, it didn't leave me!
It is me who is moving ahead.....

The Burj Al Arab, welcoming 2008. Where I was last night, it was electric. The excitement and anticipation were buzzing in the air on a dark and chilly Jumeira beach. My family together with seven other Malaysian families were amongst tens of thousands others. We arrive at around eleven, picked out spot and spread our picnic offerings.






A new year it is, but not a new life! Your miseries do not fade away just because the seven has changed to an eight. You still have to pay your bills, dig into your pocket every time you pass through one of the many tolls, and face the same faces at home and at work. Make no mistake about that....
A new year it is, but not a new life! New resolutions won't get you anywhere - except to the same place you left off a year ago. A new life - can start any time you choose it to be. But, the starting point is with yourself.
.......Think positively - of yourself and your life.
Cultivate an indomitable spirit. Believe you can and will succeed. Make a list of positive statements about yourself and read them everyday, not just on a new year's day.
Do not make excuses or put yourself down in conversations with others or with yourself. And analyze the people you come in contact with on a regular basis. Are these negative people or positive people? Your friends should support you and lift you up, not depress you and
drag you down to their level. And when someone compliments you, say thank you. That’s important. Many people receive compliments and respond with, “oh well, I’m really
not…”.
Believe in yourself and others will believe in you.





I left 2007 behind me.....just like I would like to leave my past where it belongs. In the past!
The past is just that–the past. What happened in the past does not necessarily allude to what is going to happen in the future.
Each new career, new relationship, and new friendship have their own
unique potential. If you were let down in the past, you can’t let that
affect your present and future. They aren’t the same.
If you live in the past, you will constantly live in a self fulfilling
prophecy. Your life will suck because you
expect it to suck. Or it will thrive because you believe you can! It’s that simple.
And just in case you have some doubt - ok, i am with you. There is an enemy!
The only problem is that the Enemy is You.

In order to conquer the outside, you must first conquer the inside. Look to yourself. We hold ourselves back more than anyone else has the power to. When you realize this is the reality you will find it easier to deal with your issues and make progress toward your goals.

So, please take another look at the list of resolution you have written. Then take a good look in mirror - at yourself!

My best wishes to everyone - and HAPPY NEW YEAR! But, I can only make wishes. You determine how 2008 shapes up for you....no one else!
Work hard, and pray even harder.
Smile and love a lot.
Be truthful - especially to yourself.
Make someone happy everyday.
Hug and tell your loved ones you love them, while they are alive. Life can be taken at anytime - with little notice.
Say sorry, if you made a mistake. But forgive everyone before forgiveness is asked for.
Whether you like or hate someone -their lives move on. The difference is by forgiving them - you harbor no ill feelings in your heart. Ill feelings eat your soul, yours! No one else.
Sleep well, drink lots of water, wake up for Fajr prayer, and always include your parents in your doa.


( Along, Angah, Achik, Amirul, Haziq, Luqman - ayah loves you! )
(Lil - let us make 2008 our best ever......)