ThE AlPhA MaLe

May you read this well. Surfing relentlessly (and eating well) in the Qantas lounge while waiting for my delayed flight is the cause of this post. Firstly, the comment written by a 'high-management' personnel (non-Singaporean of course) back home should not have been dignified with a response. At least not socially, but through the law. That ponders a few thoughts actually; how can someone so 'high-up' can stoop so low in their actions? What actions have the authorities made (again)? And why would an Australian (yes she's Australian!) be part of a union in someone else's country? For the first question, it begets another question actually. An assistant director of a multi-million dollar organisation living in a government estate? I'll leave that to you readers. For the third answer-perhaps she can't land such a 'high-management' position back here. It takes actual experience, knowledge and expertise to be part of the higher echelons and I...

May you read this well Spent my afternoon volunteering today. A kind soul here needed help moving around with errands and I could not say no to this person. He and his wife are my family here in South Australia. Om, as everyone calls him, was born in 1920. His mind is still sharp, but his body can no longer hold. A few weeks ago he fell and broke his right foot. Last week, the other foot fractured for no apparent reason other than the fact he was standing on it. The x-rays revealed almost a clean cut in 2 places across the foot. The break on the right foot, further up the toes and middle  But with the cast he's wearing, he's able to stand and walk slowly. And before I end, I thought I'll drop the pictures below which I took while on my trip up the borefields for work. PeAcE OuT PS: Multiply has allowed my old blog to be uploaded here. Will do that soon :-)

May you read this well. I normally do not engage in this sort of discussion in the open, but my experience may help you readers. I dreamt of being bitten by a cat in my parents home back in June. It was quite a large cat, white and pretty fat, but otherwise doesn't look mean. Without warning it jumped and bit the area between my thumb and forefinger on my right hand, and I managed to grab free after some effort. I thought nothing of it until I read some article that being bitten by a cat in your dream means a calamity might befall you. How very true; surgery, diagnosis, cold weather, loss of income, fines and the potential to lose more resources due to carelessness. I'm definitely wiser when it happens again, and I hope you will too.   O son of Adam! Whenever you call on me and entreat me, I will forgive you without measure, no matter what you did. O son of Adam! Even if your sins (are so abundant that they) reach the sky then you ask my forgiveness, I will forgive yo...

May you read this well. The picture above reminds me of how life and it's unpredictability can throw at you. I hit a big German Shepherd which ran after a wild rabbit. It happened in a split second, not enough time for me to stop. As an animal lover, it was traumatic to see the animal thrown upon impact, and rolled on the road. Fortunately, my friends & I could not spot any physical injuries other than how shaken the dog was. I had a friendly reminder the other day, and I wish to share it. Recall the people close to the prophets; Muhammad's (pbuh) uncle, Abraham's (as) dad, Nuh's (as) wife etc. How very true are His words; For Allah leaves to stray whom He wills,  and guides whom He wills. [35:8]   Imagine Bush's wife not inclined to Republican principles. Or Obama's dad refusing the ideals of Democrats. That would certainly yield the political sword to those individuals; if they can't convince their immediate families, why should we pay at...

  May you read this well. I received information recently that multiply will no longer host blogging, nor picture sharing functionality. Thus this would be my last entry for this site. Please find me in my new blog at specnatz.blogspot.com The pictures shall be placed in another domain once I can decide, or find the time to decide :-) PeAcE OuT

May you read this well. This is my first entry to the new blog. The soon-to-be demise of multiply as a blogging site has left me with no choice but to convert to the mainstream blogging domain. Mainstream- something that feels like 'going with the flow', somtimes with ignorance, but most of the time with certainty and security. Unlike life, nothing is as sure as the end of it, nothing can be certain when flunctuations exist. But some form of normalcy has to occur, has to be put into action as we are creature of habits. We do not respond well to variations, even more so if it is prolonged. Thus, we need to find comfort; an inner peace that cacoons our souls against the elements that we have no control over, a world that paces us against time from the moment we wake up, till we shut our eyes at night, a world that can thrust us up into the limelight in a flash, but may also crumble beneath our feet just as rapidly. I remind myself, and to those willing to be reminded, the...

May you read this in the best of health. Normalcy is back in sight for me. Surgery 4 weeks ago has definitely left a mark physically, and spiritually, but it has healed well so far. Parents are still here, spending a fruitful Ramadhan so far but suffering from the cold cold nights. I cannot thanked them enough for being here, they have been my saviour at times like these.  But staying indoors most of the time does create an atmosphere of tension. Thus once in a while, a walk provides a good remedy.  I have been busy with a lot of matters lately that has kept me on my toes and in constant need of searching and distributing information. Unfortunately, almost all of it has been matters of this life. Definitely something has been done to address this issue; better time management/spending equal effort, and it was this quote that had me transformed; "If we pursue matters of this world (too much), it will pursue away from us, but if we pursue after next, this world would come cl...

Peace be upon you, Had 2 feet of my intestines removed last week. I had not consented to it, but duty of care in the medical profession meant I had no choice. Although I am recovering well, times are challenging; cold weather, lack of agility due to the surgical wound and worst of all, inability to drive since discharge. Oh well, it could've been worst. I thought I could skip such surgery to a more convenient time, or at least warmer weather. Nonetheless, this would hopefully translate to normality in my daily life, especially for my prayers (been praying on a chair for most sessions since last November). The positive side would be a long break from work, and the presence of both my parents here. Meals have been sumptuous as compared to my cooking, and there's help in every aspect of my hospital stay and surgery. But an after-thought surfaced; would it have been easier if a spouse existed? Then my parents would have a lot of work cut out for them, or the other way round too. W...

May you read this well. Dad's been here for more than a month now, 'looking after' me and providing companionship to the gastro specialist. Appreciate the dishes he cooked (tried to), and with the household chores. But above all, it's fantastic to travel with a buddy who knows you very well. Which I have been doing so a lot this week. First it was at work; Roxby Down receive her water supply from the Great Artesian Basin . However, it has to be pumped almost 300 kilometres from the point of extraction. Thus, there are a few pumping stations dotting the supply line to keep the pressure and flow somewhat constant. And one of those stations decided to shut itself down early this week. Fortunately, this particular facility is located halfway to the start, near to the historic town (now almost desolated) of Marree . Thus, I jumped into the back of a 4 wheel drive with 3 others to get things sorted there. It was quite a scenery of the Australian outback, harsh and flat...

Granite Island at the other end Granite Island, Autumn `12

North Terrace. Adelaide

May you read this well. Some pictures to begin this blog entry. I think these were at Noarlanga Creek, behind Old Noarlanga town. This area is located on the foot of 2 valleys with this creek snaking into Noarlanga River and onto the sea through Port Noarlanga. These were down south of Noarlanga Jetty, somekinda Esplanade with houses skirting the cliffs. Million dollar views with the same price tag. And then there was this weekend of helping out a family clear their house for a move to WA. He happens to be my silat instructor (ex now) who took up a job offer there. Had to remove a small tree planted in his backyard into another family's backyard. It may be small but digging it up cleanly required surgical digging around the roots; they spread out wide. Lastly, another walkabout to Kangaroo Creek along the scenic drive of Gorge Road. There was a dam wall erected to control flooding but the only thing lacking; water. PeAcE OuT