Signed and sealed

This actually took place on the 14th of January. I had wanted to blog about this much earlier, but have not been able to - until today.

The organisation I am attached to, Yayasan Ilmuwan, have signed an agreement with Yayasan Pelajaran MARA (YPM) to provide consultancy for the latter. This is part of the reason why I haven't been blogging of late. Much of my time these days are focused towards getting this important project started. Alhamdulillah, things are looking good for the project to commence in February.

Anyway, I just like to share the photos of the signing ceremony.

Above: YPM's CEO, Mohamad Ali Mansor and yours truly signing the documents.

Above: Exchanging the documents

Here's looking at you, kid

My second son is now four months old. Some of my blogger friends have requested that I post his picture. Who am I to disappoint people? Here are two pictures (one with my eldest son). Enjoy!

Maintaining the momentum

The third week of 2008 has been pretty much good.

On Monday, the organisation I am attached to has signed a contract with a government agency to undertake a consultancy job. This is indeed a welcomed development as we had been in numerous negotiations since early 2007. While the signing certainly brings about sighs of relief, the true work is only just beginning.

On Thursday, I attended a meeting organised by the National Transplant Resource Centre (NTRC) at Hospital Ampang. We were there to look at a possible media awareness programme presented by a company. I must say I am impress with what they have presented. If NTRC decides to accept this proposal, I am sure that awareness on organ donation would be increased.

Then on Friday, I received the keys to our newly-bought home. Again, this is after waiting for over a year. We look forward to moving in next month.

Later that afternoon, I met up with Azhan who works in Switzerland. He was in town after a business trip to China before returning to Switzerland. As we don't get to meet that often now that he's based overseas, the opportunity of chatting "live in person" was something that neither of us wanted to miss. We met up at KLCC for about an hour and a half, and managed to catch up with each other, while of course reminiscing about our time as students in that place called Glasgow.

I wonder what the coming week has in store. Hopefully, this positive momentum that began with the dawn of the new year would continue.

Welcoming 1429 Hijriyyah

Yesterday was the 1st of Muharram which is the first day of the Muslim calendar. As the dawn of the first day of 1429 Hijriyyah unfolded, it is in the spirit of hijrah that we strive to improve and better ourselves, not just by making new year's resolution(s), but also to endeavour to translate the resolution(s) into actions that would bring about the change that we want to make.

May 1429 Hijriyyah brings about success to our lives, insya-Allah.

So far so good

We are now into the second week of 2008. In a couple of days time, it will be the first day of the Hijrah calendar. I have to say that for me personally, 2008 has begun on a high, positive and promising note.

I am now a PhD candidate at Universiti Malaya. At the same time, I am also lecturing part-time at the said university.

If everything goes well, my family will be moving into our own home after quite a long wait. We are now waiting for the keys, before doing some minor renovations. We plan to move in come Chinese New Year in February.

On the work front, things are also looking bright. Something that we've been working on to get since January 2007 has finally been approved. Barring any unforeseen circumstances or hiccups, we hope to seal the agreement in the very near future.

And the Internet connection has been fixed this afternoon. After many moons of non-connection at the office, I am back online as of 4.25 p.m. today (finally!).

The building that we're occupying now has been sold by its owner. No doubt, we'll have to move out very soon. On the bright side, we're finally moving out of this problematic building. Where to? Insya-Allah to a better place. More on this when the time is right.

I have also set a number of writing projects for me to tackle this year. Personally, I have targeted at least one novel to be published this year.

Alhamdulillah, 2008 has started on a highly promising note. With all the things that I am doing, it will certainly be a busy 2008. I just hope the momentum will be sustained for the rest of the year.

As a friend always said, "here's to a bright and prosperous future."

New year... old affinity

All these years, I have always been involved in lecturing at one point or another. I have been a guest lecturer at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) and Universiti Malaya (UM). Lecturing is very close to my heart and it is something that I enjoy.

For this year, after a hiatus of four years, I will be lecturing again (on a part-time basis) at Universiti Malaya's Faculty of Science. This is something that I look forward to. The new semester begins this week, and the first class is today.

It has always been my aim that eventually, at one point in my life, I would like to jump into the academic world on a full-time basis. The time for that to happen is not now, but with the experience of lecturing that I am accumulating, I hope it would be a good enough preparation for that eventuality.

New year... new blog (not mine though)

A little promotion here. With the beginning of 2008, it looks like my little sister now has a blog. So, feel free to drop by Alam Maya Liyana. Now let's see if we can get my seafaring brother to blog as well. That would be interesting.

In the meantime, don't forget to frequent this blog or any of my other blogs (Macam-macam Aku Tulis and Step by Step) from time to time. I will try to update as often as I can.

Two Double-Oh Eight

And so, 2008 has been ushered in.

I received several new year wishes over text message. Quite a few interesting and unique ones too. Here, I'd like to share my favourite four.

From a friend who's doing his PhD in Australia, Arsaili: "Welcome aboard to "Year 2008" airline! Passengers, pls b in seat now, hold tight as the flight will b leaving soon to New Year City! Enjoy ur flight! May Allah bless u."

A message my wife received from her colleague: "No sweet thoughts to forward. No cute graphics to send. Just a CARING HEART saying I remember U... Happy New Year."

This message came from a friend who studied in Japan. It's in Japanese and I haven't really a clue what it actually means. I have to make a point to ask him when I can: "Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu. Sakunen wa iroiro to osewaninari arigatou gozaimashita. Kotoshi mo hikitsuzuki yoroshiku onegaishimasu. Zulkefeli yori. Gantang heisei 20nen."

And my favourite message is one that I received from a 68-year old friend: "Today's exit marks the end of the old year taking with it episodes in our lives & heralds the birth of the new year either to continue from where we left or to tread on new avenues. Wishing u to cherish another promising year."

Well, I guess much can be said and written about the new year. And we should certainly take stock of 2007 while at the same time making new resolutions for 2008. Personally, I do not have any new year resolutions, simply because I believe that life itself is a process of continuous improvement. Nonetheless, instead of resolutions, I have a list of targets and aims that I wish to achieve and realise in 2008.

So, to all friends who frequent my humble blog, allow me to wish "a happy and prosperous year ahead."