Some shots@Jonker's Walk, Malacca

2nd Biggest Catch

This was my 2nd biggest catch of this species (Sebarau), estimated close to 4 kg. It was caught around 1 pm, 26th Feb 2010 at Sungai Kenarong in Royal Belum. The biggest one was around 4.50 kg caught at Sungai Kejar in 2003.

Dream Came Thru

He can't slept well last nite cos in the next day he gonna meet up with these guys, Datuk Lee Chong Wei (No. 1 ranked world badminton player) and his coach/ex-national shuttler, Datuk Misbun Hj Sidek.

Kg Sanghur, Belum Lama, Royal Belum

Finally, we made it!!!!

Let me share the history of Kg Sanghur. This kampung was "opened" and inhabited by our Malays (Siamese blood) starting off with just few families and relatives. Planting and farming were the main activities for survival.

In 1974, due to "Bintang Tiga" threat, they were ordered to flee as this area was not safe, in fact, as it was gazetted as a "black area". As you drive towards Gerik, you will pass by some kampungs i.e. Kg Belum Baru, Kg Sauk etc, these kampungs are their new settlements.

In 1982, the government started to raise the water level at Belum Lama as part and parcel of the security strategy to block the movement of "Bintang Tiga", which eventually, by default, transforming this valley into a huge massive lake, now known as Tasik Banding.

Today, there is only one person left from the first generation of this clan (now third generations). It has been their common yearly practice to revisit their former kampung in Belum Lama on Hari Raya Aidiladha for tahlil.

Mosques

Some shots taken at Pusat Tamaddun Islam in Kuala Terengganu.

It's a small world after all

Never have I ever imagined in my life that they (my inlaws) would end up staying close to us one day. This morning around 9.30 am, we viewed their "new" house (located just within a shouting distance from ours) with an estate agent and gave our thumbs up for them to go ahead with the purchase.

At first, we thought they would at least take 2 to 3 days to think about the offer. But surprisingly, on my way to the office this morning, right after the house viewing, Ayu called me over my mobile telling me it was a done deal.

Yes, so now, it's gonna be just a matter of time before they could move in their new house. It is great to have close relative staying close to each other.

Let me be the first to congratulate them on the good buy!! We are happy for you.

Gimme back

I can't recall when was the last time Ayu and I went watch movies together (just both of us) ..... it must have been decades ago. Suddently, it all dawn on me that ever since we had kids we have never done things we used to do when we were both single .... together.

So recently, we told the kids - at least once a year, ayah and ibu will go vacation without them. I guess you can expect their spontaneous retort right after that la......

No la.... sometimes I feel I need to be alone with Ayu to do things we both like to do (what are you thinking? I'm talking about HOBBIES like watching movies, travelling, gardening etc) . Sometimes I feel I need a "space". This "space" was taken away by the kids ever since we had Irfan. Now, I want it back, well ..... at least a portion of it.

But anyway, last nite was a good start, watched a good movie together at TGV and later went for a late dinner. Not so much of the movie, but that valuable fun moment means a lot to us.

The quality that counts

No more angkle pain suffered for almost a year of playing badminton ever since I put my feet on this thing. Fully recommended - soft, excellent grip on court, comfortable, light and airy.

Change

The twins have pretty much changed our family life. It seems that our existing house can no more accommodate the size of our family. No choice, hafta go get a bigger house!!

Last weekend, we had a family gotong royong to clear the compound (full of bushes even trees as the house was never been occupied ever since it was bought by the last owner - almost 6 years) . Normally on Sundays, the kids would wake up at 10 am. Suprisingly, on that particular Sunday, they woke up early and had helped us a lot.

Before

After

The last of Haji Manan clans

You too will end your "bujang" life soon .... finally ......

Congrats!!!

Welcome to the real world!!

Syukur Alhamdulillah, both were born on 26th October 2008.



1st twins

Ameera Khairin
Born at 7.50 am
2.58 kilos
Fresh from oven at 7.52 am



2nd twins

Ameera Khaira
Born at 7.56 am
2.38 kilos
Fresh from oven at 7.56 am



At 8.02 am



At 8.10 am





Around 8.15 am





Around 2.20 pm

Udang Galah @ Banting

I went there last week, had a good catch. Not too bad though, at least I could save some fuel and toll expenses compared of going to Linggi for this creature.

A tribute to Rayyan

The below sad story was extracted from an e-mail sent by Nik Aiza (Rayyan's mum) to me recently. I was there for the funeral which pretty much refreshened my memory of my beloved late nephew, Nur Farhan. I personally salute Rayyan's parents, whom I think are really supernatural human being.

"Dear friends & colleagues,

My beloved son Rayyan Hakimi passed away on 12th June 2008 at 4.45am after battling leukemia since March last year. He was 2 years, 8 months old. He passed away peacefully after enduring the pain of chemo for more than a year. His cancer cells were too strong and resistant to every chemo protocol given to him. In the end, doctors advised us to stop the chemo and to let him go peacefully without torturing him with anymore toxic chemo. Based on his blood count, the doctor predicted weeks to go & that we utilize that time to let him be free & enjoy everything possible - no more rules.

We had planned so many exciting things for him and looked foward to enjoy each of them as we knew time was against us. Unfortunately, his condition started to deteriorate further as the days passed by and despite all the freedom, he could barely run..walk..stand...sit.. every move was too painful for him. We didn’t give up hope and went for several alternative treatment…but he was getting weaker & hardly ate.

We had tried everything that we could possibly do and if there was going to be no miracle cure, then we prayed for Allah to take him to a better place. He will be dearly missed by our family and friends, even doctors and nurses. All the joy, smile and happiness that he brought to us (even temporarily) will be remembered forever. May he rest peacefully & bask in the joys of heaven.

I suppose we can find comfort in the fact that despite the chemo & other treatments for more than a year, he had quality of life - not bedridden, still full of energy and yes, lots of character. He was growing up fairly like a normal child eventhough his blood results were never great. We had a heads-up when the doctors finally gave up & said that he had about a month to go & he only fell into a coma for 2 days & went in his sleep while my husband & I held his hands.

My heartfelt thanks to all of you for all the well wishes, prayers, support, kind thoughts, contribution and condolences throughout Rayyan's illness until now. There is a saying that goes "When you need strength, it will come." And during this unimaginable difficult period, all of you have helped give us that strength in one way or another. Thanks to those who came over to the hospital, our home and the countless SMSs which I didn’t manage to reply. I also apologize for anyone that I may have missed out from this email. I am eternally grateful to all of you & there's no way for me to repay you but to wish that all the blessings be returned to you & your families."

To Rayyan and Farhan, Al-Fatihah..

3rd placing is good enuf!

I am always eager to see my kids (or any kids for that matter) to be active in sports. Why? Becos I want them to be like what I was before. But, emmm, these are the few of my experiences encountered:-

I wanted to enroll them for a teakwando classes - they said, sparring would tear my bone apart.

I gave them badminton rackets and a dozen of shuttle cocks - ended up, they kept the racket behind the door simply because they got fed up after not hitting the right targets for few times.

I promised Irfan to buy him a pair of football boots - he enjoyed playing football with kaki ayam or kasut sekolah MORE at the playground fronting our house.

So last week, they invited me see them sporting at school, so I went.

At least I am proud to see Irfan ranked 3rd for 4 x 80 metres. For Yasmine, a big surprise for a girl!! she won 3rd for tarik tali, emmm not bad la.

Keep it up kids!!!

The art of defense

In a real situation, don't take risk, the best way to do is to run away to safe your life. In a fight, the chance of winning or losing is equal.

Call me Tok Su

He is the eldest son of my eldest nephew, thus the first grand-nephew to me, born on 23rd June 2008.

Tini had been fighting an agonizing pain (well at least I believe so, no personal experience though...) from the contraction as early as 3 pm the day before. Until around 11.30 pm, no good progress was reported to me, so I fell asleep.

While I was having a good dream that nite, at about 1.45 am, a call from Faizal woke me up. "No choice Paksu, the doctor has decided for a C-section".

That call had really freshened me up, went down to the kitchen for a cup of Milo and some kurma. At about 2.30 pm, received an sms from Faizal that Afiq was safely born. Thus, I am now officially become an Atok.

Welcome to the family Afiq!!

My health

The last time I did my blood test was 2 years ago which showed a bit of increase in my cholesterol level but not too bad.

I did it again recently, it was an extreme increase of my LDL from the border line to 5.2, not only that, my liver and uric acid level showed a bad reading too. No wonder I was feeling so tired, especially after work, feeling like all energy has sapped out of my body lately. Now, I gotta force myself to change my lifestyle and eating habit.

Now, almost every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday I force myself on the treadmill at Bukit Mewah Gym (I can't play badminton anymore, thanks to my ankle injury since last Ramadhan). No late nite munching, no dinner beyond 8 pm. Bought some supplements from Himalaya, too. In fact, no rice on the weekdays.

A month has passed, I'm feeling a lot better now. I am eager to see the result on my next follow up blood test next 2 months. Is this one of the signs of aging?

A generation at stake

Mak Tua left us at the end of 2004, not too long after, followed by Pak Lang. And now, Pak Uteh is in GHKL.

Last 2 weeks, Ayu and I went to the hopistal, ward 18 of the main building to visit him. The situation was quite horrible, a small ward, beds were all over the place like the verandah and even in front of the toilet entrance.

We walked along the row and saw him sat on the bed. Somehow it was really a touching moment for me - remembering when I was a kid, we were close until one incident (i.e. sommisunderstanding among the folks in my father's family), we started to distant away from each other (not only me, all of us) for almost 15 years.

I held his hand and asked if he still know who I am. His son (sat beside him) said "dia tak berapa nampak dah". I tried to continue talking with him, but it felt awkward. Before we left I held his hand again, placed an envelop (sedekah) on his palm, I could see tears in his eyes.

Driving back home, what came across in my mind was my aunty and uncle have left us one after another, Pak Uteh is now in his existing condition, abah with his heart by-passed not too long ago and Mak Usu's battle with cancer. Soon this generation will be gone forever. And one day, as time passes by, my turn (my generation) will go through the same thing.

That's life, isn't it?

A pair (that's only a wish), 2 girls are good.

Right after Dr Ashar scanned Ayu on her 4th month periodical check up last week, he looked at me and smile, told me that both would be girls. They were about 280 grams each, then.

I was hoping a pair (my wishful thinking) but conceiving 2 girls is the second on my wish. Not too bad, now I will be having 2 boys and 3 girls altogether. Most importantly both of them are fine.

Dua, Two, Twins !!!!!

Ayu called me from Ampang Putri (she was there for her first pre-natal checked up, for our 4th one, so I did not really bother to join her to see her gynae).

"You not gonna believe this dear" I sensed her happy voice on the other line just after seeing the doctor (my heart was racing and almost reached the red mark), but I just kept silent but so many thing was playing in my mind.

She add.. " Emmm.... we have a twins!!!!!!", I was relieved.... it was the greatest moment in my life!!!

Yes... syukur Alhamdulillah, we hope everything goes well. InsyAllah.