finally.

My dear readers,

Alhamdulillah finally I reached home!!! Yeay the moment I've been waiting for.. it has been some hectic weeks. So I think I deserve rest rest rest! Alhamdulillah I managed to produce this following output:



Haha don't ask me what it is. Tapi happy sgt2 sebab dapat jugak generate this plot. It looks simple kan? But it involves a lot of programming steps and procedure. Now nak finalyse the due-report and some other bits. But it's ok. Holiday is still a holiday! 4 days are over now and I'm left with 2 weeks more. Hoho. Seize the day!

Alhamdulillah they finally decided to switch teaching S & M subjects in Malay. I do support it from the beginning actually. They said that it'll be a step-by-step process.

For these following people, enjoy Oxford ek? Your 'Malaysia' time will come soon! Hehe.. =P

janji.

aku hanya berpegang janji
janjiNya kesungguhan yang pasti
pintu kemenangan lorong bercahaya
langkah untukku pulang jalan sehala.

Hai manusia, sesungguhnya kamu telah bekerja dengan sungguh-sungguh menuju Tuhanmu, maka pasti kamu akan menemui-Nya... 84:6

hadiah.

My dear readers,

Alhamdulillah am almost done with the coding stuff for the meantime, there's another 1 bit that I need to do. Well, anyway I'm taking a break now.

The author started the book by telling a story of 2 ex-colleagues, A and B. A, the lady called B, as she had heard many good things happening to B. A thought of seeking some advice and motivation from B. B told A that he is enjoying his life and work, while it was the other way around for A. B remembered he was once being so pushy to himself and everyone, which only had made things worse. So B told A, that he and others in his current workplace had learnt something from a story called The Present. B added that it was a story of a young man who learns from an old man how to make his work and life more exciting and enjoyable every day.

The story began with a young boy, who enjoyed talking to an old man. Once, the old man mentioned to the young boy about The Present that makes one enjoying things more and able to do better in whatever one's doing each day. Being so naive and imagining it's a typical present that kids normally get, the young boy got so excited and hoped that someone would give him for his birthday.

So eventually the boy grew older, he kept on thinking what kind of The Present that the old man had mentioned about, was it like a time machine? or something that could make him richer? The old man said, 'no, the true value of The Present can't be measured in any way. When one receives it, it will make one's life more effective, thus able to do things better and you will become more successful! It is what you give for your own self'.

Left puzzled as he didn't get the exact answer, life went on and the young boy now became an adult, started working and had a relationship with a girl. At some point, he became so tensed up with his work, furthermore the relationship didn't work out as he wanted.

So to cut it short (or else it'll become the whole book),

1. The Present is what we have now. It means focusing on what is happening at that time at your very best. You are the one who are responsible to give/reward something to yourself, otherwise who else?
   
2. Don't dwell too much on the past. It will only drown you even further to a river-of-negative-feelings. Experiencing pain is important, because in that way you will learn something from it. Yes, I know it's difficult to let it go, especially when you are so much attached to it, but somehow, learn to let it go! Thus, when you have problem in present time, look at your past and thus, you will learn something from it. Thus you are able to mitigate any similar previous mistakes.
   
3. Don't worry too much on what will happen in the future. 1) and 2) do actually create a better future. Planning is important, as it creates a realistic roadmap to what we want to be. You need to picture a wonderful future that you'll have, thus work on it.
4. A life must have a purpose. So these 3 related elements above are deemed important to achieve your purpose in life. And this somewhat makes the believers and nonbelievers different. According to my friend-cum-doctor, most psychiatric patients admit that the root of their problem is because they don't have purpose in life.
   
5. How we define *being successful* is different at each phase in our life.

In the end, the old man died at some point when this man was stucked with a problem. But he has absorbed these ideas that the old man imparted to him, that he was then able to independently work out what to do next.

As time went by, he then became *an old man*, a source of inspiration to others, and touched others' life in some ways.

-----------------------------------------
There was one night that suddenly I felt the urge of reading this book for the 3rd time. It didn't take too much time (that's what I was hoping for, for a mental rest =P), less than half an hour for a fast reader myself. But I could relate many things that this book is telling to what I'm facing, what I've faced, and what I'll be facing.

Well, life is an adventure anyway, so look forward to every bits of it, while enjoying The Present ! =) We shall all have a good ending, insya Allah. Please make a prayer for me and everyone else!

building own house.

One of my fav shows is Grand Designs, featured every weekday between 7-8 pm. I will find myself admiring some of the brilliant ideas that the owners have, the patience and persistence that they portray in making their dream come true, yet able to face some of the hiccups along the journey.

Normally what I've watched are the ones built from scratch. But today's show featured a young couple with a young toddler, restoring a small castle, with a more modern extension. What I adore most is the wife's determination in making everything up to their dreams. She even designed the unique dining table.

Fortunately I have a handful of architect-friends. =) Alynn dear, restoration is your major right? =P

home.

My dear readers,

Thought of taking a usual break on Thursday night, I managed to read this book given by my MMU junior, before I embarked my Oxford journey. He initially thought of giving 'Oxford' dictionary, but gave me this book instead.

It's just a thin book, but full with thought-provoking messages. This is my 3rd time reading it, and am so compelled now to write a review on it. I thought I'd do one as soon as I was done with my first read...=P almost 3 years later now.. ok, after I finish up this one last coding stuff, I will insya Allah write the review..

Nabila invited us for a dinner at her college this evening. Pictures will follow-up soon!

So missing home now.

030609

Yesterday was very special to me.

Abah turned 62 y.o. yesterday. Alhamdulillah for once, his card arrived earlier and most importantly, safely. Mak seemed more excited with the cuteness of the card rather than Abah. =D

One of the most important men in my life. It's quite difficult to get him smiling on pictures. This is one of my fav ones =D

And yesterday Kakak boarded a flight back to Msia after accompanying me for +/-6 days. Alhamdulillah, as much as I need a company at this time around, she had been of great help in many sense. Read my draft and contributed many2 good ideas how to further strengthen it. ALhamdulillah I managed to submit a 1st full draft last Monday. Lega sgt at least dah ada something yg I need to further improve on. Kalau tak macam dalam mimpi jek la kan draft tu.

Her HoD and herself had a workshop for few days in Latimer, quite a remote place, that's what I've been told. Then only on last Thursday, they came to my place.

On Friday, I brought them to a building opposite my office where they had a meeting with someone. Then I brought them for a tour around Oxford. Weather was very hot.

Kakak with her HoD, also from the same alma mater as we were!

Pity Kakak, I didn't have much time to enjoy around with her. In fact, she was the one who kept reminding me to work, when I felt like lazying around! Hehe, bes ada 'ayam berkokok' sekejap =P

Only on Tuesday I managed to accompany her to Bicester. Good bargain, she got what she wanted! =D

@ Bicester Village

I promised to bring her watching Les Miserables in London initially, but couldn't afford to travel at this around. So we watched two movies instead.

Kakak was late for our movie appointment! Haha!

Best part is, ada 'bibik' around cooking for me. Hehe. For once, rasa nikmatnye hidup ada orang serve utk kita =P

Kakak cooked yummy2 dishes including creamy potato gratin.

Sedar2, dah kena hantar dia kat bus station. BTW no sobbing2 scene. Hehe. Tak macho la kan. =P

Our only picture taken!

Thanks Kakak. I owe you one! Tunggu kita balik Mesia then I'll return the favour insya ALlah. =D

On another note, Ainurul delivered her baby boy, Abdullah bin Syawal, safely on 25 May 2009 on UK's bank holiday. Insya Allah I will visit you guys, Ainurul, and happy 29th bday to you in another 12 days! Alhamdulillah, a double celebration indeed =D

thinking.

My dear readers,

So many things to share, yet I have so little time to do other things. This one month is going to be super duper busy. At least until July.

While waiting for some useful updates, just nak share this article. First read it in Bas' blog, then in another good friend's. Bacalah, worth the read! Whoever the author is, credit to you.


DID I MARRY THE RIGHT PERSON?

During one of our seminars, a woman asked a common question. She said,
"How do I know if I married the right person?"
I noticed that there was a large man sitting next to her so I said, "It depends. Is that your husband?"
In all seriousness, she answered "How do you know?"

Let me answer this question because the chances are good that it's weighing on your mind.

Here's the answer.
EVERY relationship has a cycle. In the beginning, you fell in love with your spouse / partner . You anticipated their call, wanted their touch, and liked their idiosyncrasies (unconventional behavior/habit) .

Falling in love with your spouse wasn't hard. In fact, it was a completely natural and spontaneous experience.
You didn't have to DO anything. That's why it's called "falling" in love... Because it's happening TO YOU .

People in love sometimes say, "I was swept of my feet." Think about the imagery of that expression. It implies that you were just standing there; doing nothing, and then something came along and happened TO YOU...

Falling in love is easy...
It's a passive and spontaneous experience.
But after a few years of marriage, the euphoria (excitement) of love fades. It's the natural cycle of EVERY relationship. Slowly but surely, phone calls become a bother (if they come at all), touch is not always welcome (when it happens), and your spouse's idiosyncrasies , instead of being cute, drive you nuts.

The symptoms of this stage vary with every relationship, but if you think about your marriage, you will notice a dramatic difference between the initial stage when you were in love and a much duller or even angry subsequent stage.

At this point, you and/or your spouse might start asking, "Did I marry the right person?"
And as you and your spouse reflect on the euphoria of the love you once had, you may begin to desire that experience with someone else. This is when marriages breakdown. People blame their spouse for their unhappiness and look outside their marriage for fulfillment.

Extramarital fulfillment comes in all shapes and sizes. Infidelity is the most obvious.
But sometimes people turn to work, a hobby, a friendship, excessive TV, or abusive substances.

But the answer to this dilemma does NOT lie outside your marriage. It lies within it.
I'm not saying that you couldn't fall in love with someone else.
You could.

And TEMPORARILY you'd feel better. But you'd be in the same situation a few years later.
Because (listen carefully to this):

THE KEY TO SUCCEEDING IN MARRIAGE IS NOT FINDING THE RIGHT PERSON; IT'S LEARNING TO LOVE THE PERSON YOU FOUND.

SUSTAINING love is not a passive or spontaneous experience. It'll NEVER just happen to you. You can't "find" LASTING love.. You have to "make" it day in and day out. That's why we have the expression "the labor of love." Because it takes time, effort, and energy.
And most importantly, it takes WISDOM . You have to know WHAT TO DO to make your marriage work.

Make no mistake about it. Love is NOT a mystery. There are specific things you can do (with or without your spouse) to succeed with your marriage.

Just as there are physical laws of the universe (such as gravity), there are also laws for relationships.
Just as the right diet and exercise program makes you physically stronger, certain habits in your relationship WILL make your marriage stronger.
It's a direct cause and effect. If you know and apply the laws, the results are predictable. .. you can "make"love...

Love in marriage is indeed a "decision"... Not just a feeling.

Remember this always :

"God determines who walks into your life. It is up to you to decide who you let walk away, who you let stay, and who you refuse to let go."

12 ways to keep smiling

I got this wooden plaque by a dear friend, Laily. I stared at it for quite sometime this morning, reflecting on myself for lacking of inspiration lately. But that was a week ago, alhamdulillah I am now in a much better mood and spirit to continue the marathon, and soon to sprint. Lecoq, in case awak baca ni, kita letak kat opis kita ok, starting from Day 1! =)

1. Hold on to your dreams and never let them go
2. Show the world how wonderful you are
3. Give circumstances a chance, and give others the benefit of doubt
4. Wish on a star that shines in your sky
5. Take on your problems one by one and work things out
6. Rely on all the strength you have inside
7. Let loose of the sparkle and spirit that you sometimes try to hide
8. Stay in touch with those who touch your life with love
9. Look on the bright side and don't let adversity keep you from winning
10. Be yourself, because you are filled with special qualities that have brought you this far, and that will always see you through
11. Keep your spirits up
12. Make your heart happy, and let it reflect on everything you do

According to this plaque, these are listed by a person named Douglas Pagels.

To do all 12 things at one time is impossible, but to do # 4 is the 1st thing I'd like to start with.

Seize the day!

patience.

it has been a long marathon indeed.
it feels like living in a world of unspoken words.
oh Allah, grant me with patience, strength and answers.
it will have an ending soon.
it will, it will.
a happy ending.

dandelion

I enjoy the sight of it, on my way to school every morning! =)