Words of wisdom

Life is too short to wake up with regrets. So love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said life would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it.

"If loving you was wrong, I don't want to be right and if living without you is right, I would rather be wrong all my life." (From anonymous)

Small Edible Garden

My Chilli plant begins to bear some chillies.

The chillies from the one and only chilli plant. 

The round Brinjal plant.

A new brinjal.

Another new one.

An Untold Journey...

Today, 5 years ago, we arrive at Schiphol Airport at 6 am after a 13 hours KLM flight from KLIA . Having set foot on a European soil for the first time is best captured with pictures. But that is not to be the case as we are in a hurry to the immigration counter to catch the connecting flight to Copenhagen. The past experience of friends at the airport proved that walking leisurely to the counter would end you up at the end of the line. Luckily we are among the first and I am surely offguard when the immigration officer says (with a rude look) something about my passport's nearing its expiry date. That is rather unexpected, I mean he didn't have to make face. After all  we are just passing through Amsterdam to get to Copenhagen. Whatever! I wouldn't let that spoil my excitement of things to come.

We have to wait for the 9 am flight to Copenhagen which takes about another 1 and a half hour. In the meantime, my wife chooses a few leather handbags worth Euro10 each while I scout around in the shop looking for something that could remind me of this experience in the future. When we approach the counter, we found out that since we are not entering Amsterdam and on our way to Copenhagen instead we could not purchase the handbags. It has something to do with some tourist shopping rules or something. 

Day One

Then we make move to catch the flight to Copenhagen and reach there at close to 11 am. As we get to the exit, the chill of 7 degrees Celcius freshens me up unlike my wife who does not prefer the cold climate. The Mercedes taxi driver who is a Muslim tells us briefly about living in Denmark, within the 20 minutes ride to the Scandic hotel located, I would say in the heart of Copenhagen.

The tourist attraction sites are easily accessible from the hotel such as the Grand Central Station for buses taxis and trains, Tivoli Park, Hard Rock Cafe, the City Hall, the famous Stroget pedestrian shops and many others (pictures in order)

      

We couldn't check in at the hotel as we are early and leave the luggage there and take a stroll instead. Enter McDonalds and order some halal food with the aid of a Muslim girl manning the counter. They don't serve chilli sauce and have to make do with tomato for these few days and suddenly I miss Life, Lingam even Maggi chilli sauce. he he what a hopeless romantic!

We move on to the survey the area and check out some of the landmarks to get our bearings right. There is the 

Copenhagen ByMuseum,

 Copenhagen Theater, 

Copenhagen Planetarium (hotel room view), 

 a lake and park in front of the hotel,

   

buildings along the Stroget area,  

 Illums Bolighus shopping mall,

 My own bank he he have a look at the name on top of the ATM,

 Cafe Norden which sounds like a Malay name,

 Ice-cream anyone? in the -4 to 7 degrees Celcius... chill,

 and lastly our dinner. I have always remind myself to snap away freely, photographing anything and everything, scenery, people, landmarks or food before going for a trip. This is to capture the moments and to enjoy them in years to come. But I keep forgetting it in the actual trip. Next time I shall fire away. Now that's the end of the first day. Tomorrow there are a lot of places to go and things to see.

Training: Web 2.0 Tools in Education (22 August 2013)

Participants in Action!

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Words of wisdom

Life is like having a cup of tea.
You sit by the side of the window, lift the cup and take a careless sip,Only to realize, somebody forgot to put the sugar. Too lazy to go for it you somehow struggle through the sugarless cup. Until you discover un-dissolved sugar crystal sitting at the bottom...

(from anonymous)

SEBUAH KISAH UNTUK RENUNGAN BERSAMA

Lapang benar dada Pak Uwei bila pegawai yang bertugas di kaunter pejabat Tabung Haji itu memberitahu nama dia dan isterinya turut tersenarai dalam senarai jemaah yang akan menunaikan fardhu haji pada tahun ini.'Tapi pak cik kena bayar segera bahagian makcik yang masih tak cukup tiga ribu lagi tu. Selewat-lewatnya minggu depan bayaran mesti dibuat, 'beritahu pegawai itu lagi.

' In sya Allah encik. Saya akan bayar seberapa segera,' janji Pak Uwei. Berita gembira itu ingin segera dikongsi bersama isteri kesayangannya. Sebaik keluar dari pejabat Tabung Haji dia terus balik ke rumah. 'Pah... oo..Pah!' teriak Pak Uwei sebaik turun dari keretanya. 'Apa bendanya terlolong-lolong ni bang?' tanya Mak Pah. ' Ada berita baik ni Pah, nampaknya hajat kita nak ke Mekah tahun ini akan tertunai. In sya Allah dua bulan lagi kita akan ke sana.Tak sabar betul saya, rasa macam Kaabah tu dah melambai-lambai,' cerita Pak Uwei dengan wajah berseri-seri.

'Betul ke ni bang? Baru semalam si Johari beritahu dia dengan Minah tak dapat pergi. Namanya tidak ada dal am senarai.' 'Betullah Pah oii.... saya ni baru je balik dari pejabat Tabung Haji. Cuma duit bahagian awak tu, tiga ribu lagi kena bayar segera selewat-lewatnya minggu depan.' 'Mana kita nak cari duit banyak tu bang? Tiga ribu tu bukan sikit, itu pun lepas duit tam bang. Duit kocek mau juga sekurang-kurangnya dalam seribu.' Mak Pah merenung gusar wajah suaminya.

'Alah Pah, kita mintalah tolong dengan Muaz dan Balkis. Takkanlah mereka tak nak beri. Bukannya banyak, cuma dua ribu seorang saja.' Wajah Pak Uwei semakin berseri-seri. Dia yakin anak-anaknya yang dua orang itu tidak akan menghampakan harapannya. 'Lusa hari minggu, saya nak suruh budak-budak tu balik boleh kita berunding,' cadang Pak Uwei.

' Kala u tak cukup bahagian saya tu, awak ajelah yang pergi dulu. Tak elok kita menyusahkan anak-anak bang, lagipun apa pula kata menantu kita nanti nak ke Mekah minta duit anak-anak.' Mak Pah tidak bersetuju dengan rancangan Pak Uwei.

'Pah... Muaz dan Balkis tu kan anak-anak kita. Kita dah besarkan mereka, hantar belajar tinggi-tinggi takkan nak hulur dua ribu pun tak boleh lagipun selama ni kita tak pernah minta duit mereka. Tak usahlah awak bimbang Pah, saya yakin anak-anak kita tu tak akan menghampakan kita kali ni.' Y akin benar Pak Uwei, harapan yang menggunung digantungkan kepada anaknya.

'Tapi bang?... ' 'Dahlah..... pegi siapkan kerja awak tu, tak usah nak risau tak tentu hala. Saya nak telefon budak-budak tu,' pintas Pak Uwei sebelum Mak Pah melahirkan kebimbangannya. Lega hati Pak Uwei bila Muaz menyatakan yang dia akan pulang kemudian Pak Uwei menelefon Balkis pula di pejabatnya. Dia hanya menyuruh mereka balik tanpa memberitahu hajatnya.

' In sya Allah Kis balik nanti abah. Emm... abah nak Kis suruh In tan balik sama ?' tanya Balkis. 'Ikut suka kaulah, bagi abah yang pentingnya kau dan Muaz. In tan tu ada ke tidak ke, sam a aje. Balik ya?... ,' balas Pak Uwei.

Bukannya dia membeza-bezakan anak-anak tapi hati tuanya cepat benar panas bila berhadapan dengan In tan. Sikap degil dan tak mahu mendengar kata anaknya itu menyebabkan dia tersangat geram. Sudahlah malas belajar tidak seperti Muaz dan Balkis yang berjaya memiliki ijazah. Kalau ditegur sepatah, sepuluh patah tidak menjawab tidak sah. Masih Pak Uwei ingat gara-gara sikap keras kepala In tan untuk bekerja kilang mereka bertengkar besar tiga tahun lalu. Kini hubungan mereka seperti orang asing.

'Abah tak setuju kau nak kerja kilang kat KL tu. Abah mahu kau sambung belajar lagi.' Pak Uwei tidak bersetuju dengan niat In tan yang hendak bekerja kilang. ' In tan dah tak minat nak belajar lagi abah, biarlah In tan kerja kilang. Kerja kilang pun bukannya haram .' bantah In tan menaikkan darah Pak Uwei. 'Aku suruh kau belajar kau tak nak, kau nak kerja kilang. Kau tak tengok berapa ramai anak gadis yang rosak akhlak kerja kilang duk kat KL jauh dari mak bapak, bolehlah buat apa yang kau sukakan. Kau nak bebas mac am tu?'

'Itulah abah, selalu nampak yang buruk aje. Bukan semua yang kerja kilang duk kat KL tu jahat abah. Kerja apa dan kat mana pun sama aje, pokok pangkalnya, hati. Kalau nak buat jahat dal am rumah pun boleh, abah.' In tan cuba membuat abahnya faham .

'Kenapalah kau seorang ni lain benar dari abang dan kakak kau. Cuba kau tengok Balkis tu, tak pernah dia membantah cakap abah macam kau ni!' ' In tan memang tak sama dengan Kak Balkis abah, In tan suka berterus terang, kalau tak kena In tan cakap depan-depan bukan membebel kat belakang,' balas In tan sel am ba menyemarakkan lagi bara dalam dada abahnya.

'Anak tak mendengar kata!!, ikut suka kaulah. Kalau kau nak pergi,pergi... aku dah tak larat nak larang. Nak terlentang ke?, telangkup ke?, gasak kaulah. Kau buat apa yang kau suka, aku tak nak am bil tahu lagi!!' Sejak kejadian itu, Pak Uwei memang tidak memperdulikan langsung apa yang In tan nak buat. Namun begitu In tan tetap pulang setiap kali cuti, dia bersikap selamba biarpun abahnya tidak memperdulikannya. In tan selalu menghulur duit tapi hanya kepada maknya sahaja. Riang hati Pak Uwei bukan kepalang bila anak-anaknya pulang, tambahan pula dia sudah rindu dengan cucu-cucunya. Malam itu selesai menikmati makan malam dan berjemaah sembahyang Isya`, mereka duduk berborak di ruang tamu.

'Sebenarnya ayah suruh kau orang balik ni, ada hajat sikit,' Pak Uwei memulakan bicara. 'Hajat apa pula abah?' tanya Muaz yang duduk di sebelahnya. 'Abah dan mak kau nak ke Mekah, nama dah ada dalam senarai. Memandangkan bahagian mak kau masih belum cukup lagi abah nak minta Kau dan Balkis bantu sikit. Tak banyak, dua ribu seorang cukuplah,' Pak Uwei mengutarakan hasratnya.

'Boleh tu boleh abah, tapi kena tunggu sebulan dua lagi. Az baru aje keluarkan wang simpanan buat duit muka beli rumah. Sebulan dua lagi bolehlah Az ikhtiarkan,' ujar Muaz. 'Tapi... pegawai Tabung Haji tu minta bayaran dibuat segera selewat-lewatnya minggu depan.' ' Kala u dalam seminggu dua ni abah, memang rasanya tak dapat. Paling tidak pun cukup bulan ni. Nak cukupkan duit muka tu pun habis duit simpanan budak-budak ni Az keluarkan,' jawab Muaz serba salah..

'Kau beli rumah lagi?., Rumah yang ada tu kau nak buat apa?' tanya PakUwei melindungi kekecewaannya. 'Rumah baru tu besar sikit, abah. Selesalah buat kami sebab budak-budak tu pun dah besar, masing-masing nak bilik sendiri. Lagipun beli rumah tak rugi abah, pelaburan masa depan juga,' sampuk Mira isteri Muaz..

Pak Uwei terdiam , harapannya kini cuma pada Balkis. 'Kamu macam mana Kis, boleh tolong abah? Nanti abah bayarlah balik duit kamu tu bila ada rezeki durian berbuah kat dusun kita tu nanti,' Pak Uwei berpaling Pada Balkis. 'Kis pun rasanya tak dapat nak tolong abah. Kis baru aje keluarkan duit simpanan buat menambah modal perniagaan abang Man. Tengah gawat ni faham ajelah... ni tak lama lagi nak bersalin nak pakai duit lagi.'

Hancur berderai rasa hati Pak Uwei mendengar jawapan Balkis. 'Man bukan tak nak tolong abah.. Kalau nak pinj am duit kad kredit boleh. Tapi yelah, kata orang kalau nak ke Mekah ni tak elok pakai duit pinjaman.' 'Betul kata Man tu abah. Kala u nak ke Mekah mesti dengan kemampuan sendiri baru elok,' sokong Muaz. Kata-kata Azman dan Muaz bagaikan sembilu yang menikam dada Pak Uwei.

Bila dia bertemu pandang dengan In tan, Pak Uwei terasa bagai ditertawakan oleh In tan bila kedua anak yang diharap-harapkan menghampakannya. 'Tak apalah kalau kau orang tak ada duit. Biarlah abah kau pergi seorang dulu, nanti kalau ada rezeki mak pula pergi,' Mak Pah bersuara cuba meredakan keadaan..

'Kalau nak pergi sendiri, dah lama saya pergi Pah!. Tak payah saya tunggu lama-lama. Kalau awak tak pergi biarlah kita sama-sama tak pergi... dah tak ada rezeki kita nak buat macam mana?' Pak Uwei bangun masuk ke bilik meninggalkan anak-anaknya dengan rasa kesal.

Intan tahu abahnya benar-benar kecewa. Walaupun orang tua itu tidak menunjukkan rasa kecewanya tapi In tan faham kecewa abahnya teramat sangat kerana tidak menduga anak-anak yang selama ini disanjung akan mengecewakannya begitu. 'Anak awak tu tak balik ke?' tanya Pak Uwei pada Mak Pah bila In tan tidak turut serta balik bersama abang dan kakaknya. 'Tak, katanya cuti sampai hari Rabu nanti,' balas Mak Pah sambil mencapai kain selendangnya.

'Nak ke mana pulak tu?' tanya Pak Uwei melihat MakPah bersiap-siap. 'Nak ke kedai Long Semah tu nak belikan anak saya In tan, kuih lepat ubi kegemarannya. ' Sengaja Mak Pah menekan suara bila menyebut anaknya. Bukan sekali dua dia menegur sikap Pak Uwei yang gemar membeza-bezakan anak.

Pagi Isnin tu selepas bersarapan In tan bersiap-siap hendak keluar.'Nak ke mana In tan pagi-pagi lagi dah bersiap ni?' ' In tan ada hal sikit kat bandar mak. In tan pergi dulu ye.'' Kala u nak ke bandar suruhlah abah kau tu hantarkan,' suruh Mak Pah. 'Tak payahlah mak, In tan nak pergi banyak tempat ni. Nanti bising pula abah tu. In tan pergi dulu.'s am bil mencium tangan Mak Pah yang menggeleng kepala memerhatikan In tan berlalu pergi.

Kadangkala sedih hatinya melihat sikap suaminya yang keras hati, membuat anaknya itu menyisihkan diri. Ketika In tan pulang dari bandar tengah hari itu mak dan abahnya sedang menikmati juadah tengah hari. 'Kau ni Tan buat benda apa lama benar kat bandar tu? Mari makan sama. Ni abah kau ada beli ikan baung salai, mak masak lemak cili api.' ' In gat lagi abah lauk kegemaran In tan rupanya,' usik In tan tak bertangguh mencapai pinggan. 'Mak bapak memang tak pernah lupakan anak-anak, cuma anak-anak aje yang lupakan mak bapak,' jawab Pak Uwei sinis. In tan tersenyum pahit.

Selesai mengemas pinggan mangkuk, In tan menunaikan solat Zohor kemudian dia mendapatkan mak dan abahnya yang sedang duduk di ruang tam u. Abahnya sedang membaca suratkhabar. Mak Pah pula melipat kain.. 'Mak, abah... In tan ada hal sikit nak cakap ni... ,' ujar In tan menghampiri mereka. Pak Uwei menurunkan surat khabar yang dipegangnya kemudian menanggalkan cermin mata yang digunakan untuk membaca’ 'Apa hal... kamu nak kahwin ke?' soal Pak Uwei merenung In tan. Tawa In tan meledak tiba-tiba mendengar soalan abahnya. Melihat In tan tergelak besar Pak Uwei turut tertawa. Mak Pah pun tergelak sama, riang rasa hatinya melihat kemesraan yang hilang dulu mula menyatu. 'Abah ni... ke situ pulak....' 'Habis tu?' ' In i... Buku Tabung Haji mak. Tadi In tan ambil dalam laci tu. Yang ni, resit memasukkan duit ke akaun mak. Semuanya In tan dah uruskan. Dan ini dua ribu untuk buat duit kocek mak dan abah. Yang dua ratus lagi ni untuk buat kenduri doa selamat sebelum berangkat nanti.' In tan memasukkan duit itu dalam genggaman Pak Uwei.

'Apa??' Pak Uwei terkejut matanya merenung In tan dan duit di tangannya bagai tidak percaya. ' In i duit simpanan In tan sejak mula bekerja dulu. Duit hasil titik peluh In tan yang halal abah, terimalah. Selama ini In tan banyak kali kecewakan abah. In tan tak pernah dapat membahagiakan hati abah. Selama ini pun In tan selalu sangat rasa kalah pada abang Az dan Kak Balkis. In tan tak cantik dan baik macam Kak Balkis, apatah lagi bijak seperti mereka. In tan tahu abah selalu kecewa dengan In tan. Hanya kali ini In tan dapat tunaikan hasrat abah. Dah banyak kali abah tangguhkan hasrat nak naik haji. Dulu kerana Kak Balkis nak kahwin, lepas tu mak pula tak sihat. Sekarang ni masa yang sesuai. In tan harap, abah sudi terima pemberian yang tak seberapa ini dari In tan,' tutur In tan perlahan memerhatikan airmata menuruni pipi abahnya yang sudah berkedut dimam ah usia.

'Terima kasih In tan. Malu rasanya abah nak ambil duit kam u... dulu abah selalu bangga dengan Balkis dan Muaz yang memegang jawatan tinggi tapi akhirnya anak abah yang kerja kilang yang membantu abah,' luah Pak Uwei sambil mengesat airmata terharu atas keluhuran hati anak yang selama ini dimusuhinya. 'Sudahlah abah. Yang lepas itu tak usahlah kita ungkit-ungkit lagi. In tan gembira abah sudi terima pemberian In tan.' 'Pemberian kau ni terlalu bernilai bagi abah dan mak kau In tan....'ujar Pak Uwei. In tan peluk abahnya erat. 'Hah... tulah, jangan suka memperkecil- kecilkan anak saya ni,' MakPah mengusik Pak Uwei sam bil mengesat airmata penuh kesyukuran. 'Mak ni... ,' gelak In tan memandang abahnya yang tersengih.

Masa yang ditunggu-tunggu tiba dalam keriuhan sanak saudara yang datang menziarahi Pak Uwei dan Mak Pah. In tan memerhati dengan perasaan gembira bercampur hiba. 'Semua dah siap ke mak?' tanya In tan menjenguk ke bilik emaknya memerhatikan Mak Pah mengisi barang keperluan semasa di Mekah. 'Dah rasanya... ada apa-apa yang In tan nak pesan mak belikan di sana nanti?' 'Tak ada mak. Mak janganlah fikir soal apa yang nak dibeli mak. Yang penting mak dapat menunaikan ibadah dengan sempurna.' 'Hah, awak dengar tu.... kita ni nak pergi menunaikan ibadah, bukan nak membeli-belah, ' tambah Pak Uwei yang turut mendengar perbualan dua-beranak itu. ' In tan tak nak mak dan abah belikan satu apa pun dari sana . Hanya satu yang In tan mahu, doakan In tan bahagia di dunia dan akhirat,' pesan In tan sambil memeluk emaknya. Mak Pah dan Pak Uwei berpandangan. Tiba-tiba sebak dengan permintaan In tan itu. ............ ......... ........... .......

Hanya dua jam lagi kapal terbang akan mendarat di tanah air. Pak Uwei mengerling Mak Pah yang lena di sebelahnya. Dalam keriangan telah menunaikan ibadah haji tanpa sebarang kesulitan, terselit rasa tidak sedap di hati. Perasaan rindu pada anak-anak terutama In tan bagai menyentap tangkai hatinya. Pak Uwei terkenangkan mimpinya bertemu In tan di tanah suci. In tan tidak berkata sepatah pun tapi bagai memberitahu yang dia akan pergi jauh.

'Kenapa resah aje ni, bang?' Mak Pah terjaga. 'Entahlah Pah, saya teringat sangat dengan In tan dan anak-anak kita..''Sabarlah, dah nak sampai dah ni,' pujuk Mak Pah. Dari jauh lagi Pak Uwei sudah melihat Muaz dan Azman menanti mereka. 'Mak... abah... ,' Muaz meraih emaknya dalam pelukan dan kemudian abahnya tanpa dapat menahan airmata menitis laju. 'Mana yang lain ni, kamu berdua aje?' Pak Uwei tertinjau-tinjau mencari wajah In tan. 'Mereka menanti di rumah, abah,' beritahu Azman suami Balkis sambil mencium tangan Pak Uwei. ' In tan pun tak datang juga ke?' Tanya PakUwei terasa hampa. 'Awak ni... kan Man dah kata mereka menunggu di rumah.' Mak Pah menggeleng, dua tiga hari ini nama In tan tak terlepas dari mulut suaminya.

Perjalanan tiga jam dari KLIA untuk sampai ke rumah terasa begitu lama oleh Pak Uwei.. Mak Pah yang melihat kegelisahan suaminya turut berasa bagai ada yang tak kena. 'Dua tiga mal am sebelum balik, abah kau mengigau terjerit-jerit dia panggil nama In tan. Kalau In tan dengar cerita ni tentu dia gelihati.' cerita Mak Pah pada Muaz dan Azman. Muaz diam sambil mengerling Azman yang sedang memandu. 'Tentulah abah ingatkan In tan, sebab In tan yang bagi dia duit,' balas Muaz cuba bergurau walaupun terasa sayu. 'Tapi, abah rasa macam ada yang tak kena aje Az, dalam mimpi abah tu, abah nampak In tan macam nak beritahu dia nak pergi jauh. Tapi dia tak bercakap pun hanya renung abah. In tan tak ada cakap apa-apa dengan kau Az?' 'Err... tak ada abah. Kita berhenti minum dulu abah, tentu mak haus,' ajak Azman menukar tajuk perbualan. 'Tak payah, dah dekat ni. Abah tak sabar nak balik,' tolak Pak Uwei. Azman dan Muaz hanya berpandangan.

Sebaik turun dari kereta, Balkis meluru memeluk mereka dengan tangisan.. Suara Pak Long Basri yang bertakbir menambah sayu. Semua yang ada menitiskan air mata. 'Mak dengan abah sihat ke?' tanya Mira setelah bersalaman dengan ibu bapa mentuanya. 'Sihat, cuma batuk-batuk aje sikit. In tan mana, dia tak balik ke?' Mak Pah mula berdebar bila In tan tidak kelihatan. 'Naik dulu Ngahnya...,' suruh Long Semah. ' In tan mana?' Pak Uwei mula hilang sabar bila tak seorang pun memberitahu di mana In tan. Pantas dia memanjat tanggu menuju bilik In tan. Matanya terpaku pada bekas bara yang terletak di sebelah katil yang bercadar kain batik lepas. Dadanya bergetar. 'Az... mana In tan? Mana adik kau Az?' tanya Pak Uwei dengan suara yang menggeletar. Badannya terasa lemah, dia berpaut pada tepi pintu. 'Sabar abah... ,' Muaz menggosok belakang abahnya. ' Kenapa Az ... kenapa?' Mak Pah menurunkan Syazwan cucunya dari pangkuan dan melangkah laju ke bilik In tan. 'Mak... In tan dah tak ada mak,'

Balkis tersedu memeluk emaknya yang terduduk lemah. Pak Uwei terkulai tak bermaya menerima berita itu. Mak Pah terus pengsan. Bila dia terjaga dia melihat anak menantu mengelilingnya. Pak Uwei duduk di tepi kepalanya. 'Sabarlah Ngah, ini dugaan Allah pada kita. In tan pergipun dalam keadaan tenang. Barangkali kerana hajatnya nak lihat kamu naik haji dah tertunai,' pujuk Long Semah yang masih belum pulang. ' In tan ada tinggalkan surat untuk kita. Dia memang dah tahu dia tak akan hidup lama. Rupa-rupanya dia menghidap barah otak. Dia minta maaf segala salah silap dan berpesan supaya kita jangan sedih atas pemergiannya. Dia minta kita doakan dia,' Pak Uwei menepuk lembut bahu Mak Pah. 'Bila dia meninggal? Siapa yang mengadap masa nazaknya?' tanya Mak Pah tersedu sedan. 'Kami semua ada mak. Dia begitu tabah menanti detik kematiannya mak.

Sebenarnya dia yang ajak kami balik ini, katanya nak kemaskan rumah sebelum mak dan abah balik. Masa sampai tu dia sihat lagi tiba-tiba malam Khamis tu lepas solat Isya` dia sakit kepala teruk sampai tak boleh bangun. Az nak hantar ke hospital tapi katanya masa dia dah tiba. Masa tulah baru dia ceritakan sakitnya. Dia meninggal subuh hari Jumaat mak... tiga hari lepas. Dia pergi dalam keadaan yang cukup tenang mak,' cerita Muaz. Mak Pah mengenggam erat tangan suam inya, terkenangkan bagaimana In tan memeluk erat mereka sebelum melepaskan pemergian mereka. Dan ketika itu bagai terdengar-dengar suara In tan berpesan,' In tan tak nak mak dan abah belikan satu apa pun dari sana .. Hanya satu yang In tan mahu, mak dan abah doakan In tan bahagia di dunia dan akhirat..' Tamat....

MORAL CERITA Buat baik dan berbaktilah kepada kedua-dua ibu bapa selagi hayat mereka masih di kandung badan. Walaupun ada kalanya mereka sering melebihkan anak-anak yang lain daripada kita. Redhailah akan lingkaran takdir yang telah ditentukan Allah SWT jua........ Apabila kita berkahwin dan juga mempunyai anak-anak, janganlah pula diulangi perbuatan yang sama. Carilah hikmah pada diri anak-anak dengan pandangan mata hati yang tajam. Dan berilah kasih-sayang kepada mereka sesuai pada tempatnya........

(from an e-mail)

Timepiece...

It's a beauty, don't you agree? This is truly one magnificent craftsmanship of a timepiece. From the very first time it was introduced in the market, it never ceases to catch my glimpse whenever I pass by the boutique. The glimmer and the warmth feeling I get everytime when my eyes cast a look upon its glistening titanium body is just like the first time when we met. Now Alhamdulillah it is finally secured into the wrist of its proud and thankful owner. Syukran. (finally got one item of wishlist)

Ingatan bersama

PERTAMA. Bersedekahlah kepada orang lain lebih daripada yang mereka perlukan dan lakukanlah dengan penuh kerelaan.

KEDUA. Kahwinilah lelaki / wanita yang gemar anda berbicara dengannya, kerana kemahiran berbicara antara satu dengan lain akan menjadi lebih penting pabila usia semakin tua.

KETIGA. Usahlah mempercayai segala perkara yang anda dengari. Berbelanjalah sekadar apa yang ada atau tidurlah seberapa lama yang anda perlu.

KEEMPAT. Apabila kamu berkata, " Aku Cinta Padamu", maka tunaikanlah.

KELIMA. Pabila mengatakan, "Maaf", tenunglah matanya.

KEENAM. Bertunanglah sekurang-kurangnya enam bulan sebelum kamu diijabkabulkan.
KETUJUH. Percayailah cinta pandang pertama.

KELAPAN. Usah tertawakan impian orang lain. Manusia tanpa impian tidak memiliki apa-apa.

KESEMBILAN.. Cintailah seseorang dengan sepenuh hati dan penuh kasih sayang. Sungguhpun anda akan berasa seolah-olah diri anda tersiksa, tapi percayalah itulah satu-satunya untuk melengkapkan kehidupan ini. KESEPULUH. Jika berlaku perselisihan pendapat, bertengkarlah secara aman. Usahlah menyebut nama sesiapa ketika bertengkar.

KESEBELAS. Usahlah menilai seseorang berdasarkan peribadi keluarga mereka.

KEDUABELAS.. Berbicaralah dengan tenang dan berfikirlah dengan pantas.

KETIGABELAS. Apabila seseorang bertanyakan satu soalan yang tidak anda gemari, lontarkanlah senyuman dan bertanyalah padanya,"Kenapa anda ingin tahu?"

KEEMPATBELAS. Ingatlah bahawa setiap cinta dan pencapaian yang besar akan melibatkan pengorbanan dan risiko yang besar.

KELIMABELAS.
Ucaplah "Semoga anda diberkati" apabila mendengar seseorang bersin.

KEENAMBELAS. Apabila anda kerugian, janganlah jadi kurang ajar.

KETUJUHBELAS. Berpeganglah kepada tiga R:
Rasa hormat pada diri sendiri;
Rasa hormat kepada orang lain;
Rasa tanggungjawab terhadap semua tindakan anda

KELAPANBELAS. Usahlah benarkan pertikaian yang sebesar hama merosakkan sebuah persahabatan yang besar.

KESEMBILANBELAS. Apabila menyedari bahawa anda telah melakukan kesalahan, usahlah berlengah untuk perbetulkan kesalahan itu.

KEDUAPULUH.. Tersenyumlah ketika menjawab telefon. Pemanggil akan melihatnya daripada suara yang mereka dengar.

KEDUAPULUH SATU Ada ketikanya anda perlu bersendirian.

PENAWAR KEPENATAN

Bagi mengatasi kepenatan melaksanakan tugas-tugas seharian sama ada di rumah mahupun di tempat kerja, bolehlah jadikan petua yang diajar olehRasulullah s.a.w. kepada puteri kesayangannya Saidatina Fatimah sebagai penawarnya. Suatu hari Saidatina Fatimah mengadu kepada suaminya Saidina Ali bin Abu Talib tentang kesakitan pada tangannya kerana keletihan menggilinggandum untuk membuat roti. Saidina Ali berkata : "Bapa kamu telah datang membawa balik tawanan perang. Berjumpalah dia dan mintalah seorang khadam untuk membantu mu."

Saidatina Fatimah pergi bertemu bapanya dan menyatakan hasrat untuk mendapatkan seorang khadam bagi membantu tugas hariannya di rumah.Bagaimanapun Rasulullah s.a.w. tidak mampu memenuhi permintaan anak kesayangannya itu. Lalu Baginda s..a.w. pergi menemui puterinya serta menantu itu. Baginda s.a.w. berkata: "Apa kamu berdua mahu aku ajarkan perkara yang lebih baik daripada apa yang kamu minta daripadaku? Apabila kamu berdua berbaring untuk tidur, bertasbihlah (Subhanallah) 33 kali, bertahmid (Alhamdulillah) 33 kali an bertakbir (Allahuakbar) 33 kali. Ia adalah lebih baik untuk kamuberdua daripada seorang khadam." Inilah penawar ringkas yang Nabi s.a.w. ajarkan kepada anak dan menantunya bagi meringankan keletihan dan kesusahan hidup mereka berdua.

Saidina Ali terus mengulang-ulang kalimah-kalimah Rasulullah.s. a.w. ini. Katanya "Demi Allah aku tidak pernah meninggalkannya semenjak iadiajarkan kepadaku." Sayugia dicadangkan kepada ibu-ibu, suami-suami atau sesiapa sahaja yang merasai kepenatan setelah melakukan tugas-tugas hariansupaya mengamalkan membaca 'Subhanallah' (33 kali), 'Alhamdulillah' (33 kali) dan 'Allahuakbar' (33 kali) pada setiap malam iaitu sebelum melelapkan mata.Lakukanlah dengan penuh ikhlas dan istiqamah (berterusan) , Insya-Allah petunjuk Nabawi ini mampu menyelesaikan bebanan-bebanan hidup sehariankita. Akan terserlah ceria di wajah pada keesokan hari dengan senyuman.

"Sebarkanlah ajaranku walau satu ayat pun" (Sabda Rasulullah SAW) "Nescaya Allah memperbaiki bagimu amalan-amalanmu dan mengampuni bagimudosa-dosamu. Dan barangsiapa mentaati Allah dan Rasul-Nya, maka sesungguhnya ia telah mendapat kemenangan yang besar."

A touching story

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'..

'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.
'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now' . We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said
'You have to make a living,' she answered.
'There are other passengers,' I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.
'Thank you.'
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

You won't get any big surprise in 10 days if you send this to ten people. But, you might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate by sending it on.

Thank you, my friend... Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Wishlist

As far as I can recalled I really never had a wishlist. But there is nothing to stop you from having one right. Anyway, some school of thoughts said that if you can see a picture of the things that you want in life everyday then you will be more motivated to get them. So here goes... Items on my wishlist (when you finally land yourself on one item, you will realize that you CAN actually expand your wishlist, I mean you can dream of anything and put them in your wishlist right!)

A funny story

A guy woke up in the morning with a terrible hangover. Next to the bed was a couple of aspirins, a glass of water, and a note from his wife ?

Honey, there's a hot breakfast waiting for you in the kitchen. Love, your wife?.

He looks around the room and sees that it is in perfect order, spotlessly clean. So is the rest of the house. He stumbles into the bathroom and notices a huge black eye. After shaving, he goes to the kitchen, and sees that the hall mirror is broken too.

His son is in the kitchen and as he's eating his huge breakfast the guy asks the son what all this is about.

Well, last night you came home drunk off your ass, stumbled into the mirror and hit your head on the doorknob. Mom helped you to bed, and as she's trying to get your pants off you kicked her away and said "Gget off me lady, I'm married".

Wake up for Fajr Solah

A man woke up early in order to pray the Fajr Prayer at the masjid. He got dressed, made his ablution and was on his way to the masjid. On his way to the masjid, the man fell and his clothes got dirty. He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home. At home, he changed his clothes, made his ablution, and was, again, on his way to the masjid.  
On his way to the masjid, he fell again and at the same spot! He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home he, once again, changed his clothes, made his ablution and was on his way to the masjid.
On his way to the masjid, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the man of his identity and the man replied I saw you fall twice on your way to the masjid, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way.'
The first man thanked him profusely and the two were on their way to the masjid. Once at the masjid, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray Fajr with him. The second man refused. The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same. The first man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray. The man replied,  'I am Satan (devil/evil)'  The man was shocked at this reply. Satan went on to explain, 'I saw you on your way to the masjid and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and went back on your way to the masjid, Allah forgave all of your sins. I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home, but rather, you went back on your way to the masjid. Because of that, Allah forgave all the sins of the people of your household ..  
I was AFRAID if i made you fall one more time, then Allah will forgive the sins of the people of your village , so i made sure that you reached the masjid safely!' 
So do not let Satan benefit from his actions. Do not put off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good. (from an e-mail) 

Alhamdulillah...

The long wait is over. Alhamdulillah, finally it's good to have a lot of work done at your fingertips whenever you feel like it. Being a proud owner of this device surely means a lot to someone like me with a lot of communication tasks.

STAR WARS ... the search continues

Hello again. These are some of the star wars characters that I am still looking for. If you have any information on them please leave a comment. Hopefully they are locally available.

Captain Argyus Stormtrooper Commander

Stormtrooper Commander Clone Trooper Senate Security

General Weir

Tazkirah

Kubur Setiap Hari Menyeru Manusia Sebanyak Lima (5) Kali ....

1. Aku rumah yang terpencil,maka kamu akan senang dengan selalu membaca Al-Quran.

2. Aku rumah yang gelap,maka terangilah aku dengan selalu solat malam.

3. Aku rumah penuh dengan tanah dan debu,bawalah amal soleh yang menjadi hamparan.

4. Aku rumah ular berbisa,maka bawalah amalan Bismillah sebagai penawar.

5. Aku rumah pertanyaan Munkar dan Nakir,maka banyaklah bacaan 'Laa ilahaillallah, Muhammadar Rasulullah', supaya kamu dapat jawapan kepadanya..

Lima Jenis Racun dan Lima Penawarnya ......
1. Dunia itu racun,zuhud itu ubatnya.

2. Harta itu racun,zakat itu ubatnya.

3. Perkataan yang sia-sia itu racun,zikir itu ubatnya.

4. Seluruh umur itu racun,taat itu ubatnya.

5. Seluruh tahun itu racun,Ramadhan itu ubatnya.

Nabi Muhammad S.A.W bersabda: Ada 4 di pandang sebagai ibu ', iaitu :

1. Ibu dari segala UBAT adalah SEDIKIT MAKAN.

2. Ibu dari segala ADAB adalah SEDIKIT BERBICARA.

3. Ibu dari segala IBADAT adalah TAKUT BUAT DOSA.

4. Ibu dari segala CITA CITA adalah SABAR.

Berpesan-pesanlah kepada kebenaran dan kesabaran.

Beberapa kata renungan dari Qur'an :

Orang Yang Tidak Melakukan Solat:

Subuh : Dijauhkan cahaya muka yang bersinar

Zuhor : Tidak diberikan berkah dalam rezekinya

Asar : Dijauhkan dari kesihatan/kekuatan

Maghrib : Tidak diberi santunan oleh anak-anaknya.

Isyak : Dijauhkan kedamaian dalam tidurnya

Craving for a Mac... certainly not Mc Donalds

This is a machine in a class of its own. I have been wanting to own it for quite some time. At last, a dream came true. It may not be much too some of you out there but it is truly an amazing thing for someone like me who cherish the sleek glistening curve of the MAChine.

The wisdom of kids

A 1st grade school teacher had twenty-six students in her class. She presented each child in her classroom the 1st half of a well known proverb and asked them to come up with the remainder of the proverb. It's hard to believe these were actually done by first graders. Their insight may surprise you. While reading, keep in mind that these are first graders, 6-year-olds, because the last one is a classic!

1. Don't change horses until they stop running.
2. Strike while the bug is close.
3. It's always darkest before Daylight Saving Time.
4. Never underestimate the power of termites.
5. You can lead a horse to water but How?
6. Don't bite the hand that looks dirty.
7. No news is impossible
8. A miss is as good as a Mr.
9. You can't teach an old dog new Math
10. If you lie down with dogs, you'll stink in the morning.
11. Love all, trust Me.
12. The pen is mightier than the pigs.
13. An idle mind is the best way to relax.
14. Where there's smoke there's pollution.
15. Happy the bride who gets all the presents.
16. A penny saved is not much.
17. Two's company, three's the Musketeers.
18. Don't put off till tomorrow what you put on to go to bed.
19. Laugh and the whole world laughs with you, cry and You have to blow your nose.
20. There are none so blind as Stevie Wonder.
21. Children should be seen and not spanked or grounded.
22. If at first you don't succeed get new batteries.
23. You get out of something only what you See in the picture on the box
24. When the blind lead the blind get out of the way.
25. A bird in the hand is going to poop on you.

And the WINNER and last one!
26. Better late than Pregnant

(from an e-mail)

Mengapa WANITA sangat Istimewa......

Mama dan Papa sedang menonton TV, seraya mama berkata. "..i letih la..dah lewat ni, i nak tido lah...."
Mama pun pegi dapur nak tutup tingkap dapur, nanti masuk pulak lipas...leceh pulak nanti..dah tu, ade pulak rice cooker dalam sink..rendam lepas makan tadi..basuh jap...
susun pinggan kat rak, lap dapur..terpercik kena sambal masa masak tadi...check air panas dalam flusk..takut habis pulak nanti malam anak nak susu...memang dah kering pun flusk ni, jerang la air...sementara tunggu air masak, nampak pulak bekas gula dah kosong....salin la gula...check bubur untuk anak nak hantar ke taska esok..nasib baik ade lagi...ishh...ni lauk bila ni, semalam...dah beku dah...basuh la kejap....pegi yard, masukkan baju kotor dalam mesin basuh...penat dah ni, besok je la basuh...sidai kaian lap je lah...
tik...bunyi air dah masak...salin air dalam flusk...ok settle...

baru teringat tak semayang lagi...on da way nak g bilik, papa tgk tv lagi...nampak pulak beg anak untuk hantar ke taska...check...baju 2 pasang, towel...towel kecik utk selsama...calamine lotion untuk sapu ruam...pampers 4 keping....alamak..telupa pulak masukkan botol...basuh botol jap...ok settle...

ternampak pulak beg g keje...emm..besok nak pakai beg polo coklat lah, asik2 pakai beg hitam ni je...salin jap barang2 g beg coklat...cek sume 6 poket beg, takut la tetinggal apa2..leceh pulak..selalunya barang yang tertinggal tu la yang nak pakai nanti...hishhh sempit la beg ni...hangin je...nak kena beli ni beg baru...rasenya 25 hb ni Sogo sale nih...mana flyers tadi ek...ha ni die..ok, catit jap kat yellow sticker, nanti lupa..ok settle...

Tetiba dengar suara papa..."..u buat apa lagi tu..tadi kata nak tido.."...."..yelah nak tido la ni..nak smayang jap..."

masuk toilet..buat apa2 yang patut...cuci muka dulu..2 jenis lak tu...adoi..gosok gigi...smayang...pakai toner...pakai treatment cream...nak lawa and maintain punya pasal lah ni...
nanti orang kata baru anak satu dah macam anak 4 pulak...huhuhuhu...

bukak almari...emmm...pakai baju hijau ni lah besok...gosok kejap..check baju papa, baju papa pun kena gosok jugak ni...kat bilik belakang...
la, napa komputer ni tak tutup ni..gelas kopi pun ade lagi, dah bersemut dah..ishhh ...g dapur, basuh, sambung gosok baju...gantung elok2...kemaskan baju gantung2...masukkan seluar papa yang dah kotor dalam tempat kotor...ok settle..

dgr suara papa lagi..."..i dah ngantuk ni.."..dalam pada nak masuk ke bilik...owh...pokok aku dah nak mati ni ha..lupa dah 3 hari tak siram...ok, siram jap...check jap pintu ni...sah tak kunci lagi...grill pun tak tutup..ni kalau tak check ni, senang2 je mat indon masuk rompak umah aku...bukak lampu luar..

ni mainan ni sepah2...masukkan la dalam bakul mainan budak ni...banyak nya...sampai bawah meja makan pun ade...adoi....ok dah ...

ok dah boleh baring...adoi sakitnya pinggang...cium si comel ni kejap...selimutkan die...la..napa basah ni...emm, tukar la pempers ni...tak bagus la brand ni, nanti nak tukar lain la...nanti g Sogo 25 hb ni beli la skali...ok sayang tido k...kalau boleh jangan la bangun tgh malam ni eh..tido sampai pagi k...gud nite..sweet dreams...

aaahh...sedapnya dapat baring...mana pulak lotion sapu kurus aku nih...ha, ni dia...sambil sapu lotion kurus,,,setkan alarm...setkan program kerja besok...pg kul 9.30 ade meeting..
ahh...boring...panas pulak lotion nih..dah la...emm..sedapnya lelapkan mata...Ya Allah...terima kasih untuk rezekiMU hari ini,...mohon keberkatan dari mu tuhan...papa pun bangun tutup tv..."...i dah ngantuk sangat ni...nak tido lah...citer pun tak best malam ni, bola pun takde..."...selang seminit ...dengar suara papa berkeruh...dah agak dah....

So?....apa yang peliknya..??

Anda tahu kenapa wanita hidup lebih lama?...SEBAB ADE BANYAK KERJA NAK KENA BUAT....tu yang tak boleh nak mati cepat tu...

Hantarkan ke 5 WANITA yang anda rasa hebat...pasti anda disayangi kerana memahami mereka...well, women understand women better...
foward jugak kat lelaki-lelaki so mereka akan hargai emak, isteri, dan kawan 2 dengan lebih baik lagi...

Tak kira la wanita berkerjaya atau surirumah...setiap wanita adalah istemewa dengan cara mereka sendiri...

K alau lelaki mengakui kebenaran ini....hormat dah hargailah mereka...untuk keperibadian dan kebolehan mereka untuk berdikari...

HIDUP UNTUK KAUM HAWA!!! (from an e-mail)

Something to ponder

Ah Kau is a guy who sells newspaper every morning next to your apartment,and you are one of his daily regular customers. Before dashing off to your office every day, you will go to his small stall and buy The Star newspaper. Wearing a newly pressed shirt, a tie, and a pair of Clarks shoes, you grab a copy of The Star, pay RM1.20 and exchange smiles with Ah Kau and greet him.

"Apa macam Ah Kau ini hari? Bisnes ada baik?"

The normal greeting like you do every day. Yes, Ah Kau doesn't speak English. He speaks Chinese and knows a little bit of Malay. He speaks a little bit of Malay but with a very thick Chinese accent.

"Biasa saja! ini bisnes aa, kadang kadang baik, kadang kadang tada untung."

"Biasalah hidup. Kadang kadang ok, kadang kadang tak ok." You give Ah Kau a pat on the back. You smile and walk away and get into your car. You start the engine and start driving to your office, a multi national semiconductor company located in a premier industrial area. You are a young and promising finance executive and the future looks bright for you.

A year goes by and things look pretty good on the track. You decide to marry your fiance and have your new wife move in to your place. Both of you feel happy because you can save more money as the two of you will be sharing one apartment and can live as one.

Ah Kau is still selling the newspaper as usual. Sometimes in the morning your wife gets the newspaper from Ah Kau instead of you.

A year later a child comes along, and you decide to buy and move into a newly developed condominium just across the street. This place is bigger so it will be perfectly fit for the 3 of you. But since both of you are working, you decide to get a maid to take care of the household and your kid. By this time you're offered a managerial job from another multinational;the remuneration package offered is much better in terms of the pay,contractual bonus, medical benefits, ESOS scheme and a few others which make it impossible for you to decline. So you join this company happily.You get busier. You realize that you spend less and less time with your family. When your department is busy preparing for the next audit, your working hours become more and more ridiculous. Any internal issues arising in the office means you'll be stuck in the office until 8 or 9 pm. Sometimes, during the weekend,you'll spend your time in your office, buried under paper work and documentation' s, instead of taking your family for a walk in the park.

One morning, on your way to get your copy of The Star, you realized that Ah Kau is no longer in his stall. So is his rundown motorbike.Instead, there's another young Chinese guy at the stall."What happen to Ah Kau?" You ask out of curiosity."Oh, he is still around, but he is no longer taking care of this stall ashe has opened up a new grocery shop down town. I am running this newspaper stall for him.""Ok." you smile. You feel happy for Ah Kau. At last he manages to improvehis life.

Your normal life continues. A year passes by and at the end of your company's fiscal year, you're rewarded for your effort with a 5 months bonus pay-out by your employer. Wow. Now that is a very handsome reward.You feel your effort has been equally compensated.To celebrate, you decide that it's time to trade your 5-year old Proton Wira to the latest Honda Civic model. It won't be much a problem to you to get a loan scheme from the bank as your pay slip will provide you an easy gateway to access financial help from any bank.

One day, the hardest reality of life hits you right on the face. The company that you've been working for years announces that they're moving their business to China for cost and competitive reason and has asked you to find a job somewhere else. "What?"You scream out cold. "I got a lot of liabilities on the card! Who's gonna pay for my mortgage? My car? My credit card? My gym fees? My bills?" You yell like there's no way out.This is the first time you feel let down by your own employer. All your hard work seem to go up on the smoke.You feel sick. You now hate your company.

On the way home, you stopped by at a mamak restaurant for a cup of teh tarik while pondering about your future.Alone.Suddenly you saw this new, shiny BMW 3 series being parked nearby. And toyour surprise, it was Ah Kau. Yes, Ah Kau who used to sell newspapers nearby your old apartment. "What happened to old Ah Kau?"You whisper to your self.Ah Kau still recognizes you, and sits next to you, and shares his story.To make it short, Ah Kau accumulated his money from selling newspapers to open more stalls, one after another.Every new stall is run by his workers so that he focused on opening more and more stalls, which in turn gives him more and more money.Over the years, he had accumulated enough cash to open up a new grocery store while at the same time buying more assets to grow his wealth. And his current wealth and success is achieved without any loan or financial help from banks and other financial institutions.

There you go. That's the story. While Ah Kau is set to become financially free, you're back to where you're started before. Ground zero . Even withyour degree(s) and working experience.Before leaving, Ah Kau gives you a familiar quote," Biasalah hidup. Kadang kadang ok, kadang kadang tak ok."He gives you a pat on the back and walks away.

In reality, if you're observant enough, there are a lot of Ah Kaus out there, that you will see every day and every where you go. The names are different, but inside them is every character of Ah Kau. They might be Uncle Dorai, Ah Chong, Pak Abu, Makcik Gemuk, Pak Man nasi lemak or others.They look to be struggling on the surface, but if you look carefully and compare with your life, many of them are living with little or no liabilities.They ride an old kapcai bike. They live in an old rundown house.They don't have credit card to swipe. They wear a 10-year old shirt and short. No new, shiny Toyota Harrier. In short, their living means are far below than yours. But what you don't realize is that many of them can save more money than yours, and over the years generate enough money to expand their business, or invest in properties. Their asset columns are much thicker than that of yours.So the next time you see Ah Kaus, never look down on them, and never underestimate them. Or else you're up for a harsh reality lesson.

(from an e-mail)