27th anniversary!

"Happy Anniversary !"

This is a special month for my wife and I. Tomorrow, 13th November, we will be celebrating our 27th Anniversary, as husband and wife, a life-long partnership. And if we add to that the three years of our friendship prior to our marriage, it means we have known each other for 30 years. I have not spent as much of my life time with anyone else - than with my wife. We are as happy today if not happier, as we were during the care free students days in Portsmouth, South of England when we first met.

Alhamdullillah!

Our marriage had gone through the ups and downs, perhaps like most marriages would. While a few could not survived the tests, ours becomes stronger. We become aware of our limits and adapt. We become appreciative of what we have, and less envious of what we don't have.

I was once a young man who were more interested in chasing rather than nurturing. She was once a young girl who have read all about love from thousands of pages of Mills & Boons.

We met, and the term 'odd couple' couldn't have found a better example than us. I was out-going, temperamental, always broke, and prefer to spend my days sleeping and my nights seeking entertainments. She was homely, diligent in her studies, down to earth and stable, and at peace with herself and contented just to spend her time with a book and some roasted chestnuts.

We were aware of our differences; but we were also aware of the similarities. We were attracted to our differences; and bonded by our similarities, one of which has been mutual respect. That, in a nutshell, has been the secret of our longevity and happiness.

Lately, we have been talking a little about our life post my retirement. We are both excited with all the possibilities.

In the mean time, we are enjoying our life in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Mekah is an hour drive away, and Medinah is the same distance by air. We are very fortunate indeed.

Enjoying life as it comes, with healthy dosages of humor and a sense of adventure, have been the oxygen of our marriage.

This month is also a special month for all Muslims. To all our friends who are performing Hajj, we wish you 'Haji yang Mabroor'. InshaAllah, we are planning to travel to Mekah during this Hajj season, and jika ada rezki, dapat kita bertemu.

Writing competition / Peraduan menulis~!

Assalamualaikum wbt :-)

Dear blogger friends,

Here is a simple and fun way of earning some 'wang raya'. All you need to do is write a 'true' story about your most memorable Ramadhan, in not less than 2608 words. Just send your story to me at ariffin007@gmail.com before 1st September 2010.

The story boleh di tulis dalam Bahasa Malaysia or in English.

Semua stories yang di hantar menjadi milik tuan punya blog 'Diary Sebelum bersara' dan jika terpilih boleh di cetak kembali dalam apa jua bentuk, tetapi credit akan di beri kepada penulis yang menghantar story tersebut.

Cerita hendaklah original!

Pemenang akan menerima hadiah 'WANG RAYA' bernilai RM2608.00 dan akan di kreditkan ke akaun tuan / puan sebelum Hari Raya.

1. Most memorable Ramadhan / atau, Ramadhan yang di kenang!

2. Not less than 2608 words / Tidak kurang dari 2608 perkataan!

3. The story must be original. If any part of the stories which is found to be unoriginal, then the entry will be disqualified/ Cerita mestilah 'original'. Jika di dapati ada bahagian cerita yang tidak original, maka penyertaan tersebut akan di batalkan.

4. Closing date 1 st september 2010/ Tarih tutup ialah 1 hb September 2010.

5. Entries must be sent to ariffin007@gmail.com / Penyertaan harus di hantar kepada ariffin007@gmail.com

6. All entries will become the properties of the sponsor of this competition / Semua penyertaan menjadi hak milik penaja peraduan ini.

7. The sponsor reserve the right not to award any grand prize, in which case top five entries will receive RM200.00 consolation prize. Jika tiada pemenang grand prize, lima penyertaan terbaik akan menerima sagu hati bernilai RM200.00 setiap satu.

8. Juri pengadil akan di umumkan setelah tamat tarih peraduan

9. The judges decision will be final. Keputusan pengadil adalah muktamad.

10. To qualify, all entries must not publish nor have been published in any form or in any media.

11. The winner or winners will be announced in 'Diary Sebelum Bersara' dan the entries maybe be published in this blog.

12. We will respect your privacy, and if you do not wish for your real name to be mentioned then you may use a nickname. Kami akan menghormati 'privacy' anda, jika anda tidak mahu mengguna kan nama sebenar, penyertaan boleh menggunakan nama samaran.

Best wishes, Selamat menulis~!

Astaghfirulah...oh God forgive me!

Physically, I am beginning to feel my age. My knees often creak under my weight and have to be aided with creative ways to climb up slopes. My eyes can no longer read cooking instructions on ready-to-cook packets of offerings from Maggie or Knorr. Although I have not yet heard, my children often tell me, I make snoring sound when I sleep. Loud one too, they say. My wife has been avoiding a direct answer when I ask her for confirmation of those claims. So, I shall remain in doubt - maybe, I don't actually snore. Maybe, I only make similar sound!

Emotionally, I am also beginning to feel my age. The most trivia of things can make me choke with emotion. Acts of kindness, just as acts of indifference affect me. My radar has become super sensitive, so much so, I am beginning to detect un-caring and un-loving vibes even in the silence that echo around me.

Spiritually, I am finding more solace in the stillness of the night, doing nothing but just watching the darkness. Uttering nothing, but just remembering Him. Silence has a different meaning, and being alone is becoming less lonely. Death starts to become a destination which is more real. Death brings renewal. The old gives way to the new and young. Even within me, I find the thought of death brings renewal to my being; trying everyday to be a better man. Every morning lately, I begin to think of what I need to do, and more importantly what I shall not do. Solace and peace, begin to radiate from within. I like my new me!

"Astaghfirullah...astaghfirullah....astaghfirullah...." Oh Allah, forgive me....

I am very grateful to God that I will be turning fifty-three in a week's time, still relatively healthy and happy. I have a wife who loves me. She doesn't say it often, but I know she does. I have my children, who are doing well and turning out to be even better with every passing day. They are always in my doa, and they are always in my thought. I am also happy, knowing that with every tear drop I shed for reasons which shall remain as my own, I am blessed with love in my heart.

it has taken me this long to be wise
it is for death, that we live this life
our destination is paradise

and worldly things will never suffice!

it has taken me this long to understand

the magic of God's grand plan

water from the sea, rise to the sky and falls on land

when He so wishes, He turns green the desert sand!

it has taken many nights alone to make me see

love between humans, are all temporary

it is His love and loving Him which stay till eternity

it has taken me long, and now I know, love is within me!

On August 26th, I will turn fifty three

it has taken me this long, but now I am free

Oh Allah, please forgive me!