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.

Raya report - Day 6

I arrived in KL around 3 p.m. today. The drive was smooth. The traffic wasn't heavy at all. I guess most people will only be coming back to the capital during the weekend. The weather was pretty good when we left Kulim. It only rained once we got to Lembah Beringin but even then, it wasn't too heavy. But I did notice that KL was pretty wet by the time we arrived even though the rain had stopped. The rain must be quite heavy just before we got into the city.

Frankly, I am a bit exhausted from the journey. I managed to get some rest in the afternoon but still, the body still aches somewhat. With the sun setting today, that means that I have completed 5 out of the 6 days of fasting in the month of Syawal. Another day to go. While I did say that this year's Hari Raya has been quiet and uneventful, I guess there is a silver lining to it. I have managed to start the puasa enam as soon as the second day of Syawal and looks set to complete it on the seventh day of Syawal. This would be my best personal achievement in this regard.

Last night, Azhan gave me a call. He is back from Switzerland with his wife Ann and daughter Lana Alesha for Aidilfitri. His hometown is in Serdang (Kedah) which is not far from Kulim. He called me up thinking of coming for a visit today. It's unfortunate that I was returning home to KL today, otherwise we'd have been able to meet up. In any case, he's coming to KL next week. So, we're planning to meet up then. Here's hoping for that to take place.

Tomorrow will be quite hectic. My father has to go to IJN to give his blood sample for Monday's follow-up. And I'm also sending my sister back to her campus tomorrow as she has to sit for an exam paper on Saturday.

Good old times

Once in a while, when you get to meet up with long-time friends, inadvertently the topic of discussion would be about the good old times. That was exactly what happened when I met up with Azhan. I have known Azhan since 1994 when he set his foot in Glasgow. Although he furthered his studies in Surrey after completing his foundation studies in Glasgow, we have been keeping close tabs on each other, more so since he's basically from the same part of Kedah as I am. In fact, he was also my pengapit during my wedding.

The last time I saw Azhan was during Nazrul's wedding which was just before he left for his current base of operation, which is Switzerland. His adventures there could be read in this blog maintained by his wife, Ann. Azhan came down to KL for some work. Despite his busy schedule, he managed to find time to have dinner with me. Not surprisingly, aside from the obligatory "catching up with each other" stuff, the conversation started to focus on the good old days - old friends, the crazy things we did, etc.

It was good reminiscing about the past. In a way, by remembering the good old days, it has managed to recharge my otherwise worn-out and tired psyche.

Good to be able to see you again, Azhan.

Blog notes

Just a note to say that I have added a new link to another blog. The blog belongs to Azhan and family. Azhan is my close friend who is 2 years my junior. He came to Glasgow in 1993 before pursuing his degree in Surrey. We have been close from day one. Heck, he was even my best man when I tied the knot. Anyway, he is now in Switzerland, and this blog chronicles his adventures in Switzerland and Europe.

Also, I am pleased to see many people reading my entry on Fikri. After I posted this entry on Friday, the number of visitors for Friday shot up to a level I've never seen before. There were 27 visitors on Friday alone, which is the highest number of visitors in a day since I started this blog. For the weekend, there were also new records. There were 17 visitors on Saturday (the highest for a weekend) and 11 for Sunday (the highest for Sunday). The average has also shot up to 19 visitors a day from 16 in a span of 4 days.

Not bad for a blog with no gossips.

Random thoughts

Random thought #1: Civil competition

Went to buy the newspaper today, but the newspaper I was looking for was not there. The owner of the shop then asked me to check the store next door. How nice it is to see such a gesture though the two shops may be competitors.

My thoughts: Who says Malaysians can't be civilised?

Random thought #2: CD peddlers

Somewhat got a surprise and shock last Friday as I was going to the mosque for the Friday prayers. Two youths in a car parked at the corner in front of the mosque were whispering and calling passers-by to buy their CDs (pirated no less). It's no surprise to see people selling stuffs like food, clothings, traditional medicine and jewellery outside mosques on Friday, but selling pirated CDs? Buying pirated CDs is akin to stealing. And then you go to the mosque for prayers.

My thoughts: Talk about paradox - steal then kneel before God.

Random thought #3: Saying farewell

One of the people closest to me when I was studying in Glasgow is now in Switzerland for his new posting with his company. Congratulations, Azhan... you certainly deserve this opportunity. I was a bit disappointed for not being able to say good-bye to him personally. We planned to meet up before he departed for Switzerland, but unfortunately, both our schedules were at odds with one another. I could only speak to him over the phone. In any case, all the best, Azhan.

My thoughts: Thank goodness for ICT. At least, we can still communicate in spite of our locations and time difference.

Random thought #4: Time, energy and rest

These are the three things in my life that I find lacking. I know everyone has 24 hours and it all depends on how you manage your time. I also know that one has to lead a healthy life so that one will have enough energy to do the things that need to be done. I am also fully aware that rest is something that cannot be taken for granted. Alas, I know but yet I do not practice. I'm cramming a lot of things into my life, and it feels like I don't have enough time, which leads to me feeling exhausted. Because of the many things that need to be taken care of, more often than not, I neglect my rest.

My thoughts: I know what the problem is, but I don't seem to try hard enough to solve it. Sigh.

Random thought #5: Instead of...

This was asked of me by the novelist, Izza Aripin. What Malay word can be used to translate "instead of" without changing the sentence structure when translating? For example, try translating "Instead of going to work, I went to see Superman Returns." [Of course, this didn't happen]. You cannot translate it into "Saya tidak pergi ke kerja, sebaliknya saya pergi menonton Lelaki Perkasa Kembali." Hehehe... kidding on the "Lelaki Perkasa" bit. But seriously, try translating the sentence by having the translation for "instead of" at the beginning and not in the middle.

My thoughts: Dumbfounded.

In the company of friends

It's just after midnight and I just got back from Nazrul's wedding. Nice ceremony - sweet and simple, not too elaborate, yet very memorable. The power point presentation depicting how the newlyweds met really stole the evening, I must say.

In any case, this wedding ceremony is rather unique to me for a number of reasons.

The first reason has to do with something I remarked at the wedding. Back when I just got back from Glasgow in 1996 up to around 2001, there were a lot of weddings that involved my friends. Sometimes in a year, there would be up to 5 weddings. These days, weddings are getting fewer and far in between. The number of friends who are still single are getting less. And Nazrul's wedding, as I feel it, is perhaps one of the last few weddings involving my friends from my Glasgow days.

I think in the next few years, the weddings that I'll be attending would mostly be those of relatives - cousins, nephews and nieces. Of course, in the next couple of decades, if I live that long, the weddings that I'll be attending would be those of children of my friends.

Anyway, the second reason why this wedding is unique is that it serves as a reunion of sorts for us "Glasgow Mafia." I have not seen many of my friends in ages, and it was indeed wonderful to be able to catch up, albeit briefly, with my long-time friends.

I went to the wedding with Ibzaini (Ib). We were in the University of Glasgow way back then, and he was also my housemate during my bachelor days in KL. While I see him quite often, since he lives near my home, it was nice to be able to chat with him in the car, catching up with old times and the likes.

Haizal was also there. He has changed a lot. I barely recognised him. The last time I saw him was at a wedding in Bangi in 1999, I think.

Nasrul came all the way from Kuantan for Nazrul's wedding. Again, this is another friend whom I have not seen in years. Nasrul was together with Nazrul at Langside Road (where they stayed in Glasgow).

Ariff, another former housemate of mine in KL, is someone whom I've not bumped into in quite a while. It was interesting to hear his stories --- funny as usual.

Azri, my housemate back in Glasgow, is having a bad cough, apparently something he caught when he was in Sudan about a month back. Last time I spoke to him, he was in a cab from KLIA after arriving from Sudan. I remembered he was coughing badly back then, and he is still coughing badly tonight.

Izwan hasn't changed much since last I met him. The only thing that changes for him is his job. Since coming back from Glasgow, this is his third outfit.

Alfonso also didn't change much. Unfortunately I didn't get to talk much to him tonight, as he seems to be busy taking photos. It was good to see him again after all these years though.

Zuhairie Suffian (Wak) came with his wife and 2 children. Wak was also my housemate during my bachelor days in KL and prior to that was Nazrul's housemate in Glasgow. While we don't see each other that often these days, we're in touch quite regularly. The last time we met was in Putrajaya a few months ago at another friend's wedding.

A sight for sore eyes is Fudin. Fudin was the groom's housemate in Glasgow in 1993. I find it touching that he came all the way from Miri to be at his friend's wedding. To me, this is a sign of true friendship.

Another friend I was eager to see is Azhan. He was my best man when I tied the knot in 2000. I had wanted to meet up with him several times before, but our respective schedules made it almost impossible to meet up.

While Nazrul's wedding is a reunion, it also serves in its own unique way as a farewell to Azhan. He will be leaving for Switzerland towards the end of the month to take up a new position offered to him by his company. For Azhan, I suppose the wedding was a perfect occasion to bid farewell to his friends, in particular Nasrul, Fudin and Nazrul. These four were actually in the same group when they flew to Glasgow.

For me personally, I am happy to be able to catch up with old friends. While I do notice that the topics of conversation have changed from guitars and hi-fis to changing diapers and career plans, one thing still remains the same. The warmth, laughter and sincerity of friendship is still strong.

No matter how long people stay apart, true friends will always come together.

To Nazrul and his wife, I pray that this union will be blessed by Allah S.W.T.

To Azhan and his family, I wish them all the best in their new life overseas.

To everyone else, it was good to be in the company of friends again.

May Allah S.W.T. shower all of us with good health, good fortunes and strength, and may our paths cross again soon, insya-Allah.