It's Ramadhan

1st Ramadhan. It is awaited with some excitement and some trepidation. I hope both AHS and I are well throughout the month and can do more tarawih at the mosque (we've been performing ours at home a lot more the last few years).

We plan to go to the Taman TAR mosque Friday nights, whereas weekends we'd probably be at Taman Sri Ukay. The rest; at home: I cannot be rushed! I hope to do better than last year when I felt stresed out for some reason. I hope to read more of the Quran. I also hope not to feel envious of others. I hope to give more, in many, many ways. I hope to be a better person.

I have forgotten (again) to do a lot extra ibadah starting from Rejab, to 'catch' Lailatulqadar. I was only reminded last Friday while listening to Pahang fm (107.5) on my way to meet with friends for lunch. See, how easy it is to forget, even when doing things for our own good?

The first day will see me cooking for the daughter and family. The next day will be her turn. I've got to work 29th Aug, while I'm cooking for the son on 30th. It's his birthday. AHS and I do not hope to get invited to break fast anywhere: we prefer just to be home with our simple needs and ways. It is good to socialise, I know, but I'll save that for Shawwal. It is also good to break fast at the mosque because besides socialising, we can limit our food intake and also get inspired by others. AHS will normally lose 5 kilos by end of Ramadhan. I hope I can, too.

May this Ramadhan be better than the last for all of us. I hope our brothers and sisters in Palestine and Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan and Southern Thai will find more peace this time, and those in Urumqi will not be troubled. I hope the troubles everywhere will go away and no one will face hunger -- for even the few hours of fasting as we do is not easy.

To whoever's reading this post, have a blessed Ramadhan.

We Learn Something New Everyday

I am glad to be able to upload pictures from the handphone to the laptop. A little late, maybe for some; but not too late for me. I got help from various people: Bloetooth, or upload? So there are pros and cons. Some very young people said, "Infra red is better, madam." And now I know what infra red is.

But I chose to upload using the USB port; it feels safer and I feel more in control.

To conclude: I'm sharing with all the pictures of herbs I have in my garden.

Tests 3

From 27th to 30th July, I attended a series of workshops, compulsory for those who wish to be upgraded to a better salary grade. Yup, salary was my driving force. Mata duitan? Perhaps. However, I enjoyed myself as well, besides getting a lot of insights and new ideas for my work. 90% of the lecturers were very good. That was the easy part. We now have to submit an assignment by 14th August. I haven't done much, but just to mull over the assignment question.

And I am also mulling over another test: the divine kind. As I had recently written, we are being tested all the time; but I feel I do not 'prepare' myself for the 'examination' at the end of my life, with my Maker. It is not just the stipulated ibadah -- the five daily prayer, the fasts, reading the Quran -- that would make us closer to Allah, but it also involves our dealings with others.

Are my neighbours well? (Most difficult to find out)

Are my siblings having problems I could help? (I never really asked)

Do my parents need anything? ANYTHING? (Can I fulfill their needs like they did with (almost) all of mine when I was their dependant?)

Was there riak when I felt the lecturer was rather young to be telling me about my work? (Astaghfirullah)

etc.

Anyhow, it is a good time to reflect upon things, today being Nisf Shaaaban and all. Why is the new book of amal open on the eve of Nisf Shaaban, I wonder.