"Harta Rampasan Perang" - Part I

....dari bumi Indonesia.

Suasana rumah di sekitar Bandung...

Assalamu'alaikum wahai sekalian yang terbaca blog ana,

Alhamdulillah, segala puji dan syukur dilafazkan untuk Allah Yang Maha Mengetahui. Ana dalam keadaan sihat walafiat, jasmani dan rohani, insya Allah. Keberadaan sekembali dari Indonesia telah dipenuhi dengan aktiviti-aktiviti biasa sebelum peninggalan ke 'medan perang'. Wakil mujahidah dari Brunei selamat sampai di tanahair pada malam hari Rabu, 7hb Mei yang mana dengan pelukan dan ciuman kasih ukhuwwah, kita berpisah menuju ke kenderaan masing-masing.

Ana terus di bawa ke restoran di salah sebuah hotel untuk meraikan hari lahir kakak ipar ana. Walaupun keletihan dan rasa mengantuk yang amat sangat, tetapi oleh kerana kerinduan untuk melihat anak-anak buah yang comel, ana turutkan juga. Keletihan yang dialami ditangguhkan seketika demi untuk keluarga tercinta.

Sepulang dari sana, ana terus rehatkan badan. Allah beri ana 'cuti' sekejap, hikmah mungkin untuk ana merehatkan badan yang letih :) Hari Jumaat diisi dengan menghadiri aktiviti mingguan kita, sambil berkongsi pengalaman yang diperolehi semasa di Indonesia. Alhamdulillah untuk semuanya. Hari Sabtu, ana isi dengan meluangkan masa khas untuk ayahanda dan bonda tercinta dan Hari Minggu, ana hadiri kuliah ilmu pagi, diikuti dengan majlis doa kesyukuran dan perkumpulan keluarga di rumah nenek dan disambung dengan mengadakan usrah online dengan adek-adek yang berada di Leeds, UK. Alhamdulillah untuk semuanya...

Indonesia...

satu negera yang ana tidak terfikir akan berpeluang untuk menjejakkan kaki ke sana dalam masa yang terdekat. Sungguh, Allah maha Mengatur, Alhamdulillah. Perjalanan yang dimulakan dengan mengambil penerbangan dari Brunei ke KL memberi kita peluang untuk bermalam di sebuah tempat khas untuk ukhti yang berada di Kajang. Walaupun pada malam ketibaan kami, Allah berikan kami satu ujian yang mana tayar kereta yang kami naiki telah pancit, memang ada hikmahnya. Sebelum berangkat lagi, ana sudah pasang niat di hati bahawa ana lakukan ini semua ikhlas kerana Allah, dan ana bermohon kepadaNya untuk menguatkan hati dan iman ana dalam menempuh apa jua jenis cabaran, dugaan dan ujian yang bakal ana tempuhi disepanjang perjalanan ini. Jam menunjukkan pukul 12.30 pagi :) Dengan ketidak-biasaan ana seumur hidup menukar tayar kereta yang pancit, dengan izin Allah di bumi Malaysia, ana diberi peluang untuk merasai pengalaman itu. Alhamdulillah, masih ada yang mahu untuk menolong hijabi-hijabi yang berkerjasama untuk melakukan 'kerja lelaki' :) Alhamdulillah, Allah telah takdirkan abang itu untuk lalu di kawasan tempat kita berhenti, dan Allah telah bukakan hatinya untuk menolong kita pada malam tu...

Sesampai di tempat penginapan, kesederhanaan tempat itu sungguh membawa kesedaran ke atas diri ana secara peribadi kerana rumah itu tidak dipenuhi dan dihiasi dengan perabot, malah hanya yang basic saja yang ada. Itu sudah mencukupi. Alhamdulillah. Duduk bersimpuh di lantai, kita ta'aruf dengan penghuni rumah tu selama dua jam, menceritakan kisah pengalaman hidup dan pengajaran yang dapat dikongsikan dengan adek-adek :) sebelum masuk tidur, sempat juga solat Isya'. Dan beberapa jam kemudian, kita dikejutkan untuk solat Subuh :) walaupun mata tersangat ingin untuk direhatkan, tapi mungkin ini adalah satu latihan untuk menyiapkan diri dengan apa yang akan berlaku setiba di Indonesia nanti...

Pagi tu, kita diberitahu tentang plan yang telah disusun rapi untuk mengisi masa kita sehingga menunggu flight untuk ke Jakarta. Seharian penuh, kita melawat beberapa tempat dan berjumpa dengan mujahidah-mujahidah yang sedang giat menjalankan tanggungjawab mereka sebagai khalifah Allah di muka bumi. Rasa terharu, gembira, bersemangat dan kecintaan semua bercampur menjadi satu apabila berjumpa dengan srikandi-srikandi yang sememangnya sungguh berkilauan cantiknya mereka dengan tudung labuh, pakaian labuh dan pertuturan yang begitu beradab sebagai seorang muslimah :) Alhamdulillah kerana Allah beri kita rezeki untuk bertemu jodoh dengan hamba-hambaNya yang lain yang bersatu untuk menegakkan agamaNya yang benar. Ana genggam perasaan bersatu kerana Allah yang mereka hadirkan tatkala senyuman bertemu senyuman, dan pelukan dibalas dengan pelukan. Sungguh, ianya suatu perasaan yang agak sukar untuk dicoretkan di sini...

Selain itu, sempat juga ana 'mengorbankan' rambut untuk digunting demi untuk memenuhi 'syarat' bergunting rambut di tempat khas untuk muslimah :). Ada hikmah rupanya ana bergunting rambut kerana apabila berada di Jakarta, ana tidak perlu risau tentang mengikat rambut yang panjang kerana kepanasan persekitaran Jakarta :) (hehe)

Jam menunjukkan pukul 5 petang. Selepas makan petang di Secret Recipe, Batu Caves, ukhti yang membawa kita sedang menuju (dengan pantasnya) ke LCCT, di mana perjalanan memakan masa selama satu jam. Flight ke Jakarta pukul 7 malam. Untuk check-in, haruslah sejam sebelum berangkat. Sempat ker? Walaupun bergegas, tetapi Alhamdulillah, semuanya beres. Sesampai di terminal, Ness sibuk check-in, manakala ana sibuk mencari surau untuk solat jamak. Alhamdulillah, semuanya beres, walaupun rasa berebut sangat-sangat.

Dua jam selepas itu, kita tiba di Jakarta. Senyuman jelas terukir di bibir apabila kita turun dari pesawat. Tak sangka kita sampai ke sini. Kedatangan kita di sambut oleh tiga muslimah yang agak beda cara bertudung dengan orang local :) walaupun agak janggal untuk berbicara Indonesia, tapi itu dijadikan sebagai satu pengalaman baru buat ana :)

Kita di bawa ke kampus adek-adek iaitu Universitas Trisakti - Kampus Kedokteran. Berjumpa dengan yang lainnya di sana. Berehat untuk seketika sebelum memulakan perjalanan menuju ke destinasi - Bandung - menggunakan van. Perjalanan memakan masa selama dua jam lebih, dan setiba kita di hostel penginapan, terdorong rasa keletihan, ana memendamkan rasa untuk terlalu 'memilih' dan terlalu 'manja' dalam semuanya. Ana buang perasaan itu jauh-jauh, menyakinkan bahawa ini adalah satu pengalaman baru yang akan dapat membawa kesedaran kepada diri ana yang selama ni tidak selalu atau tidak pernah ditimpakan dengan kehidupan yang serba kurang. Mandi dengan air sejuk? Ana rasakan di Bandung. Mandi dengan menggunakan gayung yang diambil dari bekas menyimpan air? Ana alami di Bandung. Berada di dalam bilik yang tidak mempunyai plug untuk charge hp? Ana tempuhi di Bandung. Yang pasti, apa yang ana rasai di malam pertama, membuatkan ana sedar bahawa ini adalah salah satu cara Allah untuk menyedarkan ana untuk selalu lebih bersyukur atas semua kurnia dan nikmat yang Allah berikan kepada ana dan keluarga selama ini... timbul perasaan rendah diri yang mendidik diri ana supaya tidak terlalu taksub dengan kenikmatan dunia yang hanya bersifat sementara. Adek-adek (wakil dari Malaysia) sepertinya sudah terbiasa dengan keadaan itu, kerana mereka tidak mengungkapkan sepatah kata pun tentang kondisi tempat tinggal kita. Masya Allah, sungguh tanpa ana sedari, banyak pengalaman yang ana dapat pelajari selama berada di Bandung, serta dikelilingi oleh mujahidah-mujahidah Islam yang berakhlakkan wanita solehah. Hati ana memanjatkan syukur kepada Allah atas kesempatan untuk merasai kehidupan yang serba kekurangan...

Ana yakinkan hati bahawa.... Ini adalah satu permulaan dalam perjalanan seorang da'i demi untuk mengenal kesusahan dan kenikmatan memilih jalan menuju keredhaan Allah semata....

Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda:

Sesungguhnya menakjubkan urusan orang mukmin itu, semua urusannya adalah kebaikan, dan hal itu tidak mungkin terjadi kecuali pada seorang mukmin, jika ia mendapatkan kenikmatan ia bersyukur, maka itulah yang terbaik untuknya, dan jika ia tertimpa kesusahan ia bersabar, maka itulah yang terbaik untuknya

(Hadith riwayat Muslim)

Indahnya ciptaan Allah, "maka nikmat Tuhan-Mu yang manakah yang kamu dustakan?"
Surah Ar-Rahman, ayat 13 - pemandangan langit dan matahari dari pesawat. Subahanallah!

(to be continued, insya Allah)

p.s.: uhhibukum fillah, adek-adek ana yang berada di Malaysia dan Indonesia ;)

have you heard?

Sometimes, summary points are there to help you save time reading long long sentences. =) i know i'm that bad at summarizing long long sentences (go figure~)

• first online usrah with the girls in Leeds was held today. (Alhamdulillah, jazakallahu khayran girls, joint-effort with sweetiebums)
• topic discussed was ISK. (neez, what's ISK? teehee)
• insya Allah, continuation will be held the weekend after we get back from Jakarta. (interested to join? email me or ness)
  
• oh, WE are off to TWO cities next week. (doakan for our safe journey and return, jazakallah!)
  
• tickets are confirmed, bought and printed. (Alhamdulillah for the rezeki)
  
• someone's blog is un-existed. (such a word?)
• waves at dina in Canada because we MISS YOU so. (we doooo~)
  
• had HM meeting on Friday, ice cream session and we "cam-vain" like crazy. (good pictures can be used for borang ta'aruf, yes?)
• we miss DINA! (come back soon!)
  
• my nephew is such a BAMBAM! (picture as proof!)
  

"watchu lookin' at?"

and all the random things...

I was driving... then I noticed as I reached home, my meter thingy showed a nice number -


So random. I KNOW!

Anyhoo, Ness and I made full use of the last day of the book fair. Heavens!! We wish the fair could've stayed a wee bit longer, cause we both just couldn't get enough of the sight of all the books!! And I bought this!!!


And masya Allah, the sea of people who came to ICC for the book fair was quite... overwhelming, to the fact that it's almost impossible to find *halal-not-breaking-the-rule* parking space, so we decided to park all the way down, at the stadium tertutup and walked our hijabed wearing *insert appropriate word* up the hill. And being the unfit one, I climbed with much difficulties, so much so, I was breathing quite heavily as we reached the place. She, of course, made fun of me! WUBS YEW ANYWAYS!

And the sight of Tahfiz students (methinks) was calming to me. Their uniform is so lawa!! So tertutup. So proper! melikes!! Even one of the stall owners asked if I were one of the Tahfiz students (I wish!!). Huhu... then I had to lower my gaze as I took the change for the book I bought. Haya' neez, haya'!

I was browsing through Bimbingan Mu'minin, and I was interested to read more on -

Sifat yang harus diperhatikan dalam memilih sahabat.

Ketahuilah, bukan semua manusia patut dijadikan sahabat. Rasulullah s.a.w. telah bersabda:

"Seseorang itu atas agama (perjalanan) rakannya, maka hendaklah seseorang kamu memerhatikan siapa yang harus dipilih menjadi rakan"

Allah s.w.t. berfirman:

"Dan janganlah engkau menurut orang yang telah Kami lalaikan hatinya dari mengingati Kami, lalu ia mengikutkan hawa nafsunya" (al-Kahf:28)

"Maka berpalinglah engkau dari orang yang tiada mempedulikan peringatan Kami, dan ia hanya menginginkan kehidupan dunia semata-mata" (an-Najm:29)

"Dan ikutilah jalan orang yang suka kembali (bertaubat) kepada-Ku" (Luqman:15)

Alqamah berpesan kepada puteranya, katanya: Wahai anakku! Kiranya engkau merasakan perlu untuk bersahabat dengan seseorang, maka hendaklah engkau memilih orang yang sifatnya seperti berikut:

1. Jika engkau membuat bakti kepadanya, ia akan melindungimu.
2. Jika engkau rapatkan persahabatan dengannya, ia akan membalas baik persahabatanmu itu.
3. Jika engkau memerlukan pertolongan daripadanya berupa wang dan sebagainya, ia akan membantumu.
4. Jika engkau menghulurkan sesuatu kebaikan kepadanya, ia akan menerima dengan baik.
5. Jika ia mendapat sesuatu kebajikan (bantuan) daripadamu, ia akan menghargai atau menyebut kebaikanmu.
6. Jika ia melihat sesuatu yang tidak baik daripadamu, ia akan menutupnya.
7. Jika engkau meminta sesuatu bantuan daripadanya, ia akan mengusahakannya.
8. Jika engkau berdiam diri (kerana malu hendak meminta), ia akan menanyakan kesusahanmu.
9. Jika datang sesuatu bencana menimpa dirimu, ia akan meringankan kesusahanmu (membuat sesuatu untuk menghilangkan kesusahan itu).
10. Jika engkau berkata kepadanya, nescaya ia akan membenarkanmu.
11. Jika engkau merancangkan sesuatu, nescaya ia akan membantumu.
12. Jika kamu berdua berselisih faham, nescaya ia lebih senang mengalah untuk menjaga kepentingan persahabatan.

Alhamdulillah, Allah Maha Pemurah, I have found the girls who have one and more qualities stated above, and by Allah's will, we meet up every Friday to recharge our Iman, insya Allah! That is why I hearts my Halaqah Muslimahs! And the feeling of having the girls in my life is just... indescribable.

Friends for me, come and go. But with what I've been through these past few years, losing a best friend, losing contact with school friends, and only keeping in touch with a few closest friends, I realize the difference between 'kawan' and 'sahabat'. And the jodoh to meet my HM girls, somehow I believe that Allah menggantikan what I lost with something that's so much better. Subahanallah, Maha Suci Allah yang mengatur kehidupan hamba-Nya dengan begitu terperinci!

Allah s.w.t. berfirman:

"O Prophet, say to whoever is in your hands of the captives, "If Allah knows [any] good in your hearts, He will give you [something] better than what was taken from you, and He will forgive you; and Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." (Al-Anfal:70)

"Wahai Nabi (Muhammad)! Katakanlah kepada para tawanan perang yang ada di tanganmu, "Jika ALlah Mengetahui ada kebaikan di dalam hatimu, nescaya Dia akan memberikan yang lebih baik dari apa yang telah diambil darimu dan Dia akan Mengampuni kamu". Allah Maha Pengampun, Maha Penyayang." (Al-Anfal:70)

At ease, in this lifetime, I do hope that you've found the kind of friends that can make you feel like a million dollar, so to say, the ones that bring that smile on your face, that give their shoulder when you cry, listen when you pour out, despite of your weaknesses, accept you for who you are and what you want to be, and guide you as much as they could so that you can be that someone you want to be with.

:) Salam ukhuwwah!

one down....

*insert a number here* more books to go (left to be read)

Alhamdulillah, I've finished reading this book in a few days. lol. Alhamdulillah..



Now I have these books among others (which are kept neatly at the corner of my room) to start reading. Whee~


Here's an interesting story:

The two of us went to the book fair yesterday. And she got two marriage proposals that were directed to her verbally, and I'm thinking, how many other marriage proposals that were not verbally communicated to her as well? I wonder! huhuhu... I supposed it was quite an interesting observation though, there we were, two hijabbis going through books, flipping through pages, looking all overwhelmed with the amount of books available, and THUD!

"If you want to learn Arabic free of charge, and fast... then marry me!"

and...

"If you can find someone with THAT description, then let me know" and I asked, "Aren't you married?" And he replied, "Do I look like I'm married?"

Well, I'm sorry bro, last time I went there, there was a lady waiting in the corner, I just thought she was your wife...

And hence, we ended up saying RED LORRY YELLOW LORRY all over again. I guess it is still a wonder, ya? But this is quite a sensitive (if not, embarrassing) issue to be discussed about in a 'public' blog that anyone can have access to reading it, so thus, I officially reminded myself to say this:

RED LORRY YELLOW LORRY!

Or better yet, I better get myself busy with those books I have in line waiting to be cosy with me, eh? :) (At least they've been waiting patiently for me to choose, and pick them up and start reading - without complaining! huhuu)

I hearts my Halaqah Muslimahs!

summary.

Assalamu'alaikum dearest,

Nawaitu lillah.

Ness and I attended the 3-day ESQ Training from 26-29th February at Asma Hotel and all I can say is:

I cried.BUCKETLOADS (from the very first day). enuff said.

I would recommend it to everyone to attend it in the near future, if you have the opportunity. It is indeed a worthy 'investment'. Take my word for it.

I can't even begin to describe the experience I felt for the three days I attended the training. Alhamdulillah for the rezeki, Alhamdulillah for the experience, Alhamdulillah for that Allah indeed is the best planner, Alhamdulillah because Allah has ordained that on that three days, Ness and I and the rest of the participants have been 'chosen' to attend the training, as a 'perantaraan' to find the answers that most people are looking for but don't know where to look.

It was definitely spiritually uplifting! I'm smiling THIS THIS WIDE!

Salam Semut and Salam bahagia buat semua.

GO GO GO, FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT, WIN WIN WIN!!

Insya Allah, Ness and I will be off to Pusat Ehsan this morning to volunteer bergotong royong. So I should really get ready! Meeting the sisters later as well. I am EXCITED!

mm my love, see you and the girls later insya Allah. Yay yay. Miss everyone to the maximus!

the week.

Assalamu'alaikum WBT...

Alhamdulillah, kupanjatkan syukur ke hadrat Allah s.w.t kerana limpah kurnia dariNya, kita semua masih berada di sini, di awal tahun hijrah and I suppose, it's not too late for me to say:

SALAM MA'AL HIJRAH 1429 EVERYONE!!

Resolutions? =) Semoga Allah memberkati kehidupan kitani, menambahkan keimanan, kesabaran dan ketaqwaan kitani dalam menjalani ibadah dengan keikhlasan hati, memurahkan rezeki kitani, mengeratkan dan menguatkan ukhuwah yang kitani bina atas dasar kecintaan kepada Allah dan demi menegakkan keindahan dan kebenaran ugama Islam dan semoga hari-hari yang kitani lalui akan mendatangkan manfaat kepada diri kitani, keluarga kitani, kawan-kawan kitani dan masyarakat sekeliling, amnya. Insya Allah.

I could've posted about it prior to the day itself, tapi... Alhamdulillah my days have been filled up with activities that insya Allah akan dapat mendatangkan berkat, rezeki dan jua menambahkan ilmu (dan iman) Amin... =)

Banyak aktiviti yang telah berlaku, and I personally put 'aktiviti' pasal I think the activities 'activate' me, who is still unemployed, to fill up my time with doing beneficial things, insya Allah =)

One of them - Alhamdulillah, berkat rezeki dari Allah, the night of the awal muharram, the sisters and I went all the way to KB (driven by Y - Jazakillah sweetie, semoga ditambahkan rezeki cos bersusah payah fetching the girls and driving us safely there and back ;)). We were invited by one of the sisters to attend a ceramah by penceramah undangan.

WHO?

Prof. Dr. Harun Din.

YEP!

Masya Allah. Ada rezeki jua kan jumpa him =) The ceramah that night was about 'Hijrah', how we 'hijrah' from this world to the next, in particular. And bits about pembacaan Surah Al-Fatihah yang betul. =) SIUKKKKK!!

What's more better than getting the chance to meet him was, none other than the surprise made by her. We were stunned upon salam-ing with the girls and there she was, with her cheeky smile saying "Assalamu'alaikum". It was a shock that the others had to 'shussh' us down to calm us down with the unexpected surprise. I, for one, couldn't help cubit-ing her. It worked!! Now, that's what I'd call 'the best surprise'. Cheeky girl! LOVE YOU!

"Ketua Darjah sudah balik", that's what Ustaz and Ustazah said. Lol. Couldn't agree more ;)

Then, as usual, Friday is our halaqah meet-up. Continuing our Fi Zilal sessions with Ustaz (ref: Di Bawah Naungan Al-Qur'an by Sayyid Qutb), and Alhamdulillah, after two months, we've finished mendalami the 'Muqaddimah' (baru muqaddimah) and yesterday we've started on mendalami the tafsir on Surah Adl-Dluha and Al-Iqra'. Alhamdulillah. Thanks to D for hosting the session and providing us with food. Alhamdulillah.

The sisters have plans to do activities together (like the one in Shahbandar), the good news is - it's open to any other sisters who are interested to join in the fun - it'd be like ta'aruf (perkenalan) session by doing activities together, in other words, mengeratkan lagi silaturrahim between us sisters. Insya Allah, when details are agreed, will post it.

Oh oh. I've finished reading:
1. Ayat Ayat Cinta
2. Ketika Cinta Bertasbih Ep. 1
3. Ketika Cinta Bertasbih Ep. 2

Now, I'm hunting for more novels yang dapat membangunkan jiwa (and memberi kesedaran) insya Allah.

FYI, HM: I love you my sisters. I really do. I miss being around you girls!! xxx

UK, here I come (again)

Salaam everyone.

Nope. I'm not done packing yet. And I'm knackered.

I haven't been feeling well these past week, but Alhamdulillah, Allah has made it easy for me to do things that needed taken care of. Alhamdulillah. I trust that everything ada hikmahnya, wallahu'alam.

Luggage - check.
Passport - check.
Laptop - check.
Checklist - check.
Self - not checked yet.

body - aching.
throat - in pain.
temperature - higher than normal.

Need. Sleep. Now.

ps. update soon, insya Allah. Pray for our safe journey, there and back.. Jazakallahu khairan.

pps. I WILL MOST DEFINITELY MISS MY HALAQAH MUSLIMAHS *hugs hugs* and our HALAQAH SESSIONS *sobs sobs*; i.e. Iman-refreshing-day ;) (see you ladies in two weeks plus, insya Allah - be good and remember me in your dua'as and tarbiyah and halaqah sessions!!)

xoxoxo

Officially a postgraduate.

Alhamdulillah, all praise belongs to Allah...

Assalamu'alaikum WBT, wahai pengunjung blog ana yang tak seberapa ni. Semoga kalian sentiasa dalam kesejahteraan dan keredhaan Allah s.w.t. yang Maha Pengasih lagi Maha Penyayang...

Lebih kurang pada jam 2ptg tadi, ana menerima panggilan dari mama semasa ana sedang driving, selepas memberi salaam, mama mengucapkan "Tahniah sayang". The last time she congratulated me was last year when she found out that I was offered the government scholarship to further my Masters degree. Alhamdulillah, Allah Maha Pemurah. So I was like, "napa ma?" and she said that there's a letter from my uni stating the classification of my Masters degree.

Now, honestly speaking, I wasn't over confident, nor was I under-confident, if there's such a word. But I know I have tried my best, especially for my thesis, considering that I had to return back to Brunei, spent two intensive weeks at Brunei Shell Petroleum to collect my data, conduct interviews and information needed for my thesis and spoilt myself silly for a week in KL before returning back to UK to spend the whole month doing nothing but my dissertation. And it was all worth it. Masya Allah. The review I got from my markers stated that my research is well argued. And I am smiling THIS wide!! I'm satisfied because I knew I wasn't a study-holic when finishing my thesis, in fact I was still as calm as the breeze the first few weeks of writing up. But now I understand that an effort that you personally put to make something so spectacular, and when you get the result and praises are on the way, you can't help but thank Allah for giving you this rezeki, this brain, this motivation to do what seems to be 'difficult' 'challenging' to achieve but at the end of the day, the effort you put in it, is what counts. Well done, neez. You did it!! Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah, sudah ditakdirkan rezeki ana untuk menjadi seorang postgraduate :)

Jazakallah for your dua'as.. :)

Now I feel like celebrating! What to do-bee-duu-bee-duu~

Neez @ Notts.

Hijjaz - Hidayah

Tuhan...
lama aku gelintar
cari arah cahaya
menerangi gelita

Tuhan....
indahnya hidayahMu
sinari ruang kalbu
luruh airmataku
mensyukuri nikmatMu

ooo... Tuhan
pimpinlah hati ini
untukku menghayati
ooo... petunjukMu

walau diuji kesabaranku
juga keimananku
tidak tercabar keyakinanku
pada janji-janjiMu

tetap bersujud di hadapanMu
merayu cintaMu
seluruh jiwa aku serahkan hanyalah untukMu
betapa ku bersyukur dengan hidayah yang Engkau berikan
semoga selamanya aku kekal di jalanMu

***************

Salaam everyone,

I am currently in Nottingham visiting my geek baby brother (Heehee, inda bah, he's not a geek. He's brilliant, intelligent, artistic, tall, bla bla bla...) so no updates. Just being busy with doing stuff. Besides, internet deprived has made me somewhat occupied with concentrating with other things, like polishing my tajuid reading, insya Allah.

Nottingham is gorgeous and BIG and everything is spread out - university is like ten to fifteen minutes bus rides to the city centre, A's house is close to university however, but 'day rider' is 3 quid even though single ticket costs around GBP1.40 (two single ticket still cost cheaper than dayrider - wassup with that?), one of the bus we took is so cool and spacious and I like, they have a place called 'Beeston' as well, Robin Hood is from Nottingham, and Nottingham Castle is just within walking distance from the city centre, on the contrary it's hard to see any Asian in the city centre, kinda made me feel so 'unblended'. So for I, someone who happens to love walking, definitely LOVE walking around the big city today. However.... despite everything else, I'd still prefer the centrality of Leeds :)

Home is coming soon, insya Allah. And I'm half excited and half worried. But insya Allah, pray that Allah will make easy my journey and everything...

Proper update soon? Insya Allah. Until then...

Nottingham... reminds me of two things:
- Robin Hood movies...
- and M.W.* (past past past)

Allah hafiz.

Welcome New Leeds-ians.

Salaam everyone,

we had a very busy day yesterday. Apparently the new Leeds-ians from Brunei came yesterday from London. And I thought there were only two of them, turned out there were EIGHT of them. I haven't learnt all of their names yet but I'm getting there.

Anyways, they are all undergraduates. Alhamdulillah, with the limited time span, and with their patience and endurance to walk the miles around the university and campus area, sorting out their accommodations and what-nots, and to top it off, we were all fasting, so I take it as a 'ujian', Alhamdulillah, everything went smoothly. We managed to accommodate the three juniors who prefer to stay in a privately rented house rather than the student halls. Alhamdulillah, we have managed to help out as best as we can to make them feel welcome, and we had our sungkai session at Charco's. Perhaps they didn't expect that 'no rice' was available as Charco's is a knock-off (if I may say so) of Nando's - but at a cheaper price ;)

Alhamdulillah as well, the 'tour guides' were very helpful and happy to do it ;) To show the juniors around university area. Big thanks to M, R, G, A and M for helping out with the luggages and transportation.

Today, we went to the city centre since they needed to buy necessary stuff for their rooms. Boy, I remembered when I first came to Leeds last year, I was all alone sorting out what needed for university and for home. I guess being independent is a part of me already that I'd feel suffocated when I'm home where I can't do what I usually do, at my own time and pace without having to worry much about other people. I remember getting lost trying to find the train station, I remember exploring the university area trying to find the library, I remember a lot of things I've learnt about living in Leeds and I guess that's what's got to happen in order for you to experience it yourself.

Sometimes I do get the impression that people think that it's 'easy' to live here. But I gotta say, it depends on how you see it. If you're thinking - easy as in you get to make your own rules - then yes, it is. I love the fact that I have my own room, and I have it to myself, hence I can pray calmly, spend time with myself, and all that jazz. But on the other hand, there's other stuff to worry about, such as paying bills, rent, thinking of what to eat for dinner, buying food stock, having to carry them home (no cars here), this and that... but then that's what makes it so special. It's the experience that counts.

But that's just me ;)

The juniors with R - plus Auntie and Uncle (parents of Zaim (sp?) - I's cousin)



[pictures have been deleted]

Anyways, we're home now. Resting.

Somehow, seeing the new juniors coming now makes it more harder to leave Leeds, but at the same time, I can't wait to be home again, especially during Ramadhan because I've missed it for the past three years. I can't wait to wake up during sahur, and I can't wait to go to Pasar Ramadhan (or whatever they call it now) and buy begedils and kueh malaya. YUMS!! More importantly, I can't wait to see my halaqah sisters and join the halaqah!!! YAY!

What's for sungkai later? And what's for sahur tomorrow morning? Teehee.

Have a blessed day, everyone. Allah hafiz.

Kaka Hana: yes ka, I got your contact details in my inbox. Thank you for sending it. Insya Allah, will let you know prior to my departure to London ok. take care ka..

knackered. simply knackered.

Salaam everyone,

Alhamdulillah, I'm doing fine, despite coughing a little bit, perhaps due to massive house-cleaning campaign last saturday that all the dust that I managed to accumulate for the past year has finally taken its toll on my health, wallahu'alam...

But I'm good ;)

And found out something today *raising eyebrows* and I am a happy happy bunny (and aunt, for that matter). FYI, I am already a proud aunt (a.k.a. "iring") to a very talkative niece named Aleeya! And I'm expecting more, insya Allah :)

Someone actually 'amanah' kan something she confided in me so even though I am so impatient to tell another particular someone, but because 'amanah' is something that's quite 'heavy' to keep, so I'm trying my best to keep my word, insya Allah.

IMAM GHAZALI' Apa yang paling berat didunia? '
Murid 1 = ' Baja '
Murid 2 = ' Besi '
Murid 3 = ' Gajah '
Imam Ghazali = ' Semua itu benar, tapi yang paling berat adalah MEMEGANG AMANAH (Surah Al-Ahzab : 72 ). Tumbuh-tumbuhan, binatang, gunung, dan malaikat semua tidak mampu ketika Allah SWT meminta mereka menjadi khalifah pemimpin) di dunia ini. Tetapi manusia dengan sombongnya berebut-rebut menyanggupi permintaan Allah SWT sehingga banyak manusia masuk ke neraka kerana gagal memegang amanah.'

I'm knackered because I just got back from York Designer Outlet with S. It was a good five-hour straight going in and out of shops that we didn't even bother to take our lunch. haha. But when we wanted to get back to Leeds, somehow the trains got delayed and we got stuck in York for an hour plus before there's a train that could take us back home. Alhamdulillah, despite all that, I was still thankful for today. I wasn't even complaining. Yeah sure I was tired, but shopping was a good therapy for us both - plus we got to eat Millies' Cookies. So yeah!

York's done. Coming up next is Leeds, then London then home (insya Allah)

Ahlan wa Sahlan Ya Ramadan~

:D

Allah hafiz, everyone.

move, moving, moved.

Salaam everyone,

Alhamdulillah, after 12 return trips of walking up and down Woodsley Road carrying/dragging luggages, plastic bags, big mirror, duvets and what-nots, we have officially moved into the undergrads' place for a few weeks because we are officially homeless. The amount of stuff we have managed to gather for the one year living here is unbelievable. Come to think of it, we came here with one big luggage and one small luggage and within a year, we have bought so much stuff that it's impossible to fit all those in the original one big and one small luggages :S

I remember thinking, "where are all the men in the world to carry all these heavy stuff?" but then, I brushed it off and be optimistic about it. Who needs a guy to do a job that us women are capable of doing, yeah sure, it's more harder, but at least at the end of the day, I can actually say, "... done that". Perhaps being on my own for the past year has taught me to really stand on my own two feet. It's harder, but I've managed so far, Alhamdulillah :)

Anyways, came across a blog that I got from an email I received, and one particular post actually made me - cried to be thinking of how weak my Iman is lately. Perhaps it's been weak all these times :(

It's a good read - clickey here

"....And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path"
(Surah al-Baqarah, Ayat 213)

And I've asked *A to find me the book - "Syahadah: Dialog dengan gadis melayu atheist" - of course, *A wants to check the contents first before giving it to me, just to be sure, *A says.

Alhamdulillah.

Now that I'm free, what am I going to do?

~Ahlan wa Sahlan Ya Ramadan~ I'm so excited!!!! Can you tell????? May this Ramadan will be more meaningful for me, insya Allah...

Allah hafiz.

after all is said and done...

Salaam everyone,

Alhamdulillah, praise be to Allah alone for making it a smooth and easy day for me today, after going through the last three months doing the biggest part and sorta the most important highlight of my postgraduate life as a student - finishing my dissertation, today, I have submitted my work. And was I relief?

Honestly, not really. Perhaps, because I finished the work quite early but postponed in handing it a few days after printing it, really taking my time to bind it, going through it... and spending a night with it. I know, sad, isn't it? Well, it's MY work. I feel so attached to it somehow. Prolly because it has a lot of personal happenings attached to it as well. I went back to Brunei because of it - gathering data, got to see my family at the same time, had a vacation in KL, came back here finding out I missed all the crazy summer sale, and spending the last four weeks or so transcribing my interviews, going through a lot of articles, writing a lot of points, sleepless nights, spending a lot of time with my laptop, missing a lot of proper meals (hence, 'diet' period), uneven emotions, spending less time outside because I practically stayed in my room most of the time, sacrificing time with friends and putting outside the urges to go shopping... and all that jazz.

And after all that is said and done...



But I got to talk to my mama today. Hehe.. She was the first person I called when I handed in my dissertation. Then, S and I went for lunch, went to send her former housemates off and then off to buy some groceries.

I have a confession to make.

I'm currently addicted to strawberries with chocolate. Before this, I was like "what's all the fuss?", then when I tasted it for the first time last week - I'm hooked!!! I was never a strawberry-person, but for this one, I'm all for it!! The strawberries look so yummy, yes? Well, they taste EVEN BETTER than they look. Can you see I'm drooling??


Teehee.

Such a girl I am.

There's an 'acknowledgment' page in the thesis that we included for thanking those people who matters to us. My deepest thanks go to my parents, but I felt so bad now I didn't include all the 'other' persons who have directly and indirectly encouraged and motivated me in finishing the thesis, without whom, I wouldn't be able to finish it earlier!! But rest assured that my thanks and gratitudes to you guys (you know who you are) are a part of my prayers, insya Allah... ;) (perhaps, when I get the opportunity to do my PhD one day, then insya Allah, I'll remind myself that... ;) )

Alrighty then. Time to catch up on things (and life and sleep and rest and laziness). I need to pack my one year and move out!!!

Allah hafiz everyone.

a early taste of what's coming...

York Trip

.....AND FREEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

final week final week final week!!

and sushi later~ (insya Allah)

walking down memory lane~

Glory day, Intake 17 Graduation Day - May 2004
my babah's in there somewhere. teehee.
I wonder what ever happens to the ladies' picture. Hmph.
(::2004 - 2006 - insya Allah 2007 - Alhamdulillah for Your abundant blessings, Ya Allah::)

....a first time for this.

Salaam everyone,

Kayfa haluki? (I think it means "How are you?" in Arabic - kalau salah tolong betulkan, Jazakallah ;) )

Alhamdulillah, I am very lazy puasa-ing today, insya Allah.

I'm only about 400+ words to reach my minimum word limit, and what I've been doing all day? Something else that has nothing to do with thesis at all. Sigh. I guess my motivation is going downhill today, temporarily, I hope... because I need to get over this by the end of this week, insya Allah. May Allah make it easy for me...

Anyways, for most of you who know me, I don't eat sushi - PERIOD!

In Brunei, the only TWO times I ate sushi was at Excapade, both in Gadong and Kiulap. Atupun, I ate anything yang ada TUNA-ONLY (in other words, "cooked" tuna in tin only please!) and the thought of eating the "raw" type is a big NO-NO. In fact, I will make a face every time people mention about bringing ME for sushi.

No thanks, I'll pass.

Kesian my friends. Them sushi lovers can't really bring me along whenever they have their usual sushi-frenzy.

Do I get jealous??

No, siree.

I defy.

I'll gladly excuse myself and choose to go someplace else.

BUT...

there's always a first time for everything. Apparently, the postgrads here are sushi-lovers and since it seems like everyone's leaving soon, so R decided to treat US for sushi yesterday. I joined, because, I thought, "hey, why not? I can stick to my usual tuna-only dish, yes?"



MAN, WAS I SO SO SO WRONG??

After thinking of what to eat, and when MY dish came... you can imagine the look on my face asking this question:

"Mana tuna nya?"

lol.




RAW, MAN, RAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!

Raw Salmon, Raw TUNA!!!!

HOW 'TIS?

I was convinced by them that "it ain't that bad..."

Presentation-wise, it was gorgeous.

BUT RAW TUNA!!!!!

Mau inda mau, yes, I had to brave myself to eat it - FINALLY!

Finally, I can say - I've eaten SUSHI!

*pats self at the back* - you did something 'cool', you deserve a day off from thesis~

(any reason, eh?) ;)

ps. Congrats to Ness for making it a year since she don the hijab. Wubs wubs wubs you~

pps. It's nisfu Sya'aban y'all.

ppps. MAJAL.

Mood: Lazy

Khas Buat Babahku...

Salaam everyone,

It was just another weekend, another weekend for me means the deadline for my thesis is getting closer. But just like any other typical procrastinators, I took my own sweet time trying to finish up another 2,000 words to reach my thesis target, insya Allah...

And just like any other typical procrastinator, I jumped to the idea of having one whole day NOT thinking about my thesis, because A invited us to go to Chester (close to Liverpool) for one whole day shopping frenzy at Chester Oak Retail Outlet. It was planned a few nights ago, and G and I decided that we need a break from the work and spend the day having retail therapy instead, which we are actually best very good at, (un)fortunately.

I started the day just like any other day. Waking up for my late-night prayers, then slept for a coupla hours before waking up again in the morning to do the routine activities. But today, I had to wake up earlier than usual, hence I lost a few hours of sleep because we promised to be at their (A&Z's) house at a certain time.

The moment I woke up, checked my phone and I almost beat myself for almost forgetting that today is my babah's 54th Birthday. Ya Allah. I had it saved on my calendar but somehow I supposed with the things I have to deal with at the moment, that little fact kinda passed my mind :(

But it was never too late to wish him birthday, yes? So, before anything else, I texted mama and berbunga-bunga my text messages wishing babah for his birthday. Why I texted my mama instead of my babah? Because believe it or not, my babah seldom interacts with the kids unless there's something important that he wants to discuss about, any other day, he'd gladly pass the ringing phone (whenever one of us calls up during weekend) instead of picking it up and talking to us. teehee. funny, even mama teased him sometimes saying, "cubatah cakap sama anak atu..." but that's my babah... for those who know him personally, he might seems serious (well, he is, actually) but just like G said, a girl's first love is her dad. I guess I have to agree with her. Almost everything I want in a husband is in my babah. Dads are like a reflection and the best example of how we want our husbands to behave like (at least that's what I personally think).

Anyhoos, melalut lak citer hari nie. Point is, after texting, I called mama up when we safely arrived at Chester and when I said "Say 'Happy Birthday' to babah...", mama just directly passed the phone to babah.

*gulp*

So, as awkward as it must've felt, it actually felt natural. Babah and I talked for a good few minutes. saying that they're having dinner at Nyonya Gadong (aiii) and he even updated on the news of my sister being admitted to the hospital (which, btw, if you could please make dua'a for my sister so that she and her baby will always be in the protection of Allah, and lekas sembuh, insya Allah - Jazakallahu khairan in advance) and then mama was updating on a particular matter regarding application for a particular post.

Seems like everyone's healthy, fine and happy, Alhamdulillah, except that mama sarut suara - so mama, anak mama doakan semoga mama lekas sembuh jua...insya Allah...

[doa anakanda untuk babah mama & keluarga sentiasa dilafazkan di setiap solat harian, insya Allah...]

Right on.

I had headache all day, perhaps due to the lack of sleep and skipping breakfast this morning, but Alhamdulillah, soon as we reached home, after taking shower, wudhu and performing my solat, it feels like Allah has lifted the pain and now I'm fine and all smiley. Alhamdulillah... ;) amazing, innit?

Oh, and I've been blog-hopping these past few days and one of the blog-owners adviced that (in his own words):

"Menulis artikel jangan bergantung pada “ilham”, coz itu akan membuatkan kita tidak istiqamah. Tapi biarlah kita menulis atas dasar “tanggungjawab”. insyaALLAH, kita akan sentiasa hadir dengan artikel2 terbaru…"

:) semoga menjadi iktibar dan peringatan buat diriku yang sering lupa...

"O you who have believed, why do you say what you do not do? Great is hatred in the sight of Allah that you say what you do not do."
(Surah As-Saff [61:2-3])

perbetulkan niat?

Salaam,

Jazakallah for your daily visits, all my silent readers.

I came across this website and so far, it's been very good and informative. Clickey here to find out more, insya Allah bertambah ilmu kefahaman tani tentang isu-isu kefahaman Islam.

Anyhoo, having an undoubtful interest to deepen my knowledge on *ehem* marriage, I came across this article. Enjoy.

Niat Sebelum Bernikah

Setiap pasangan yang akan berkahwin hendaklah memasang niat-niat yang baik, sesuai dengan tujuan-tujuan perkahwinan yang telah digariskan oleh Islam; antaranya:

1. Ingin meramaikan umat Islam.

Firman Allah s.w.t.bermaksud: "Wahai sekalian manusia! Bertaqwalah kepada Tuhan kamu yang telah menjadikan kamu (bermula) daripada diri yang satu (Adam), dan yang menjadikan daripada (Adam) itu pasangannya (isterinya Hawa) dan yang membiakkan dari kedua-duanya zuriat keturunan lelaki dan perempuan yang ramai." (an-Nisa': 1)


2. Membersihkan zuriat dalam keluarga Islam.

Firman-Nya yang bermaksud: "Dan Allah menjadikan bagi kamu isteri-isteri dari jenis diri kamu sendiri, dan menjadikan bagimu dari isteri-isteri kamu itu, anak-anak dan cucu-cicit, dan memberimu rezeki dari yang baik-baik.Maka mengapakah mereka beriman kepada yang bathil dan mengikari nikmat Allah?" (an-Nahl: 72)


3. Menceriakan kehidupan umat.

Seperti maksud firman Allah s.w.t.: "Dan antara tanda-tanda yang membuktikan kekuasaanNya dan rahmatNya bahawa Dia menciptakan untuk kamu (wahai kaum lelaki), isteri-isteri dari jenis kamu sendiri supaya kamu bersenang hati dan hidup mesra dengannya. (ar-Rum: 21)


4. Membantu menyuburkan iman.

Firman Allah s.w.t. yang bermaksud: "Dan orang-orang yang beriman, lelaki dan perempuan, sesetengahnya menjadi penolong bagi sesetengahnya yang lain,mereka menyuruh membuat kebajikan dan melarang daripada berbuat kejahatan,dan mereka mendirikan sembahyang dan memberikan zakat serta taat kepada Allah dan RasulNya, mereka itu akan diberi rahmat oleh Allah. (at-Taubah:71)


Tujuan-tujuan sebegini wajar diteliti oleh setiap orang yang hendak berkahwin agar perkahwinan itu dibina di atas landasan yang betul dan kuat serta dikaitkan dengan kepentingan agama. Namun demikian, ini tidak bermakna Islam menafikan kepentingan peribadi dalam setiap perkahwinan. Malah di atas kepentingan peribadi itulah dibina kepentingan Islam tadi, sesuai dengan maksud beberapa hadis berikut:

1. Rasulullah s.a.w. bersabda, maksudnya: "Kahwinilah perempuan yang keturunan anak ramai, sesungguhnya aku berbangga dengan kamu kerana ramainya ummah." (Riwayat Abu Daud dan Nasa'i).

Untuk menambah bilangan umat Islam ke tahap yang membanggakan Rasulullah, mestilah dengan keinginan seks. Seorang yang berkahwin tanpa ada keinginan seks tidak akan menghasilkan zuriat, malah orang yang tidak bernafsu seks tidak dibenarkan berkahwin. Untuk mencapai kehendak Rasulullah di atas maka setiap kali melepaskan keinginan seks, niatkan untuk menambah bilangan umat yang bertaqwa.


2. Rasulullah bersabda, maksudnya: "Pilihlah tempat menyimpan air mani yang baik (isteri solehah) dan kahwinilah wanita yang sepadan." (Riwayat Ibnu Majah dan al-Hakim).

Pilihan yang tepat ada kaitan dengan zuriat keturunan. Perhubungan seks dengan pasangan yang baik itu menjadikan zuriat keluarganya baik-baik juga. Sebaliknya, jika keturunan salah satu dari pasangan itu terdiri daripada orang yang pernah membuat maksiat maka kesannya akan menjalar kepada zuriatnya pula.

Rasulullah bersabda: "Apabila suami mengajak isterinya ke tempat tidur lalu dia enggan, maka tidurlah suami itu dalam keadaan marah kepadanya. Akibatnya malaikat turut marah kepadanya sehingga Subuh. (Riwayat al-Bukhari dan Muslim).

Hubungan seks boleh menceriakan hati pasangan suami isteri. Tanpanya akan menjadikan hati pasangan menjadi gundah, menderita dan tidak tenang. Isteri perlu sedar tanpa berkahwin pun seseorang itu boleh memakai pakaian bersih,boleh makan makanan yang enak dan boleh berhibur hati, tetapi tanpa perkahwinan dia tidak boleh menyalurkan keinginan seks secara halal. Kerana itu, hormatilah suami demi menceriakan jiwanya.

3. Rasulullah pernah juga bersabda yang menggambarkan apabila seseorang itu berkahwin menangislah para syaitan dan sembahyang orang yang berkahwin lebih pahalanya daripada mereka yang belum berkahwin.

Dengan berkahwin, seorang isteri itu akan terbela kehidupannya, terselamat kehormatannya manakala suami pula tidak akan terjebak lagi dengan dosa dan maksiat kerana semuanya ada di dalam rumahtangga mereka. Ini dengan sendirinya boleh meningkatkan iman dan taqwa masing-masing.

Begitulah antara sebab mengapa perkahwinan disyariatkan dan begitu dititikberatkan. Seorang lelaki tidak minta dirinya dikahwinkan, wanita tidak minta dirinya dilamar dan janda tidak minta diri dan anak-anaknya dibela melainkan hanya untuk kepentingan Islam. Demi mahu merebut kasih sayang, rahmat dan redha Allah sebagai jambatan selamat menuju ke hari
akhirat.

"Janganlah mengahwini wanita-wanita kerana kecantikan. Mungkin kecantikan itu memburukkan hidup. Jangan mengahwini mereka kerana harta, mungkin harta itu menyebabkan kezaliman mereka. Tetapi kahwinilah mereka atas dasar agama.Seorang sahaya yang hitam, berbibir tebal yang beragama adalah lebih baik."- Ibn Majah

############

Now, the question is, betulkah niat kita untuk mendirikan rumahtangga? wallahu a'lam.
Who am I to criticize question something I've never experienced before?

even though, back to the question asked, I would react this way>> *neez nods vigorously* lol insya Allah :)

... and this is when ness and neez's theme song comes in line.. NESS, CUE!

here comes the summer sun~

Salaam everyone.

Sorry for the LACK OF UPDATES!

Thanks for leaving 'comments'. *waves at mamat gua cina sasat perasan cina* lol good to see you coming out once in a blue moon~

I have reasons why I have been OCCUPIED these last few days and hence the lack of updates...

FIRST...



I love the number '17' that I requested to have it designed on my favourite drink - hot chocolate... (although it doesn't look '17' to me...)

SECONDLY,



Then I get to see my cute little niece - Aleeya


THIRDLY,



Then, butter chicken is SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD AND NYAMAN AND CHEAP!

....and FINALLY,



I get to take picture with Aiman who's currently in BRUNEI.

... get the hint?

I'M BACK PEOPLE!!!!

But for a month only as I need to do my research data collection for my Masters thesis for two weeks at BSP. And I'm currently using their wireless function as we speak. Started yesterday and it was a great first day - hey, it's only gonna be for two weeks so might as well enjoy it, no?

Sorry for the surprise. But I'll tell more in my next post. For now, I'm quite occupied with my research (yatah karang! :P) and there's no internet connection at home.

If you do see me around, please tagur-tagur, I can be quite 'blind' and 'in my own world' when I walk alone. lol. Bah, work's calling.

ps: thanks to Ness for being there at the airport. wubs you muchos!!!!

xoxo

Shopaholics we are.

[pictures have been removed]

Salaam everyone.

I've uploaded pictures on my multiply page, but that's not important :D

Last night, we had another supposedly-last-gathering before most of our juniors are off to Brunei, fieldtrips, and so on. Last gathering (which was supposedly to be the last) was last week before Kak Ros and Moi Ling returned back to Brunei for good. Then, without prior planning, we decided to hang out at Zura's place where she cooked her dishes and Qasmal cooked buttermilk chicken. It was delicious. Raizul and Filala joined us afterwards and we 'tested' Winy's and Gdah's new Sony digital cameras.

Anyways, I just picked one picture because I did the 'menyampah-mau-lagi-kan-bergaya' pose. lol.

Moving on...

Went to Boundary Mills, Colne (pronounce as - Cone [silent 'l']) with Kak Lin, Ida and Gdah and about 4 other family members, to make full use of the summer sale discounts. OooOooH we loveeeee sale!! Ness said I can never have enough shopping!! True kah? Nada lahhh!

On the down side, since we started the journey with an empty stomach and since the journey went through the countryside (beautiful scenery by the way, masya Allah), hence Gdah and I tend to get carsick to the point where we both felt like vomiting. Now, I am not the typical person who gets carsick easily, but this morning, prolly because of the way Kak Lin drives the big machine (merc) and because of the countryside road full of twist and turns, so it was BAD!

BAD to the point that I had headaches all day long. So shopping wasn't that great, although I did manage to get handbags, a top and trousers at bargain price, with a further 10 percent discount! :D

The journey back was the same so I decided to sleep it off. No movie for me tonight. Was supposed to go watch O's13 but due to certain circumstances on my and his part, so we postponed.

Now I'm lying lazily on my comfy bed. And the weather's been great, to the point where I have to open my window when I sleep because it gets hot!!

Headache!!

By the by, Ness and I have a theme song!! Cool this!!!

I miss my family, my friends, my ukhti!

I think I'd stop here la. I'm rambling and I don't like it when I ramble nonsense. So full of nonsense!!

xoxo