Sand And Stone

This story tells about two friends who were walking through the desert. At one point during the trip, they started arguing and one of the friends hit the other in the face. The one that had been hit was hurt, but without a further word, wrote down in the sand - TODAY MY BEST FRIEND HIT ME IN THE FACE.

They carried on walking until they came across an oasis, where they decided to freshen up and bathe. But the one that had been hit before got caught in the mud and was about to drown, but the friend saved him.

After he had recovered, he wrote down on a stone - TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.

The friend who had hit his best friend and had then saved him asked, "After I hit you, you wrote in the sand, and now you are writing on stone, why?"

The other friend answered, "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand, so that the wind can forgive us by blowing it away. But when someone does something nice for us, we should engrave it in stone, where no wind can ever blow it away."

They say it takes a minute to find someone special, an hour to appreciate them, a day to get to like and love them, but it takes a lifetime to forget them.

A Different Perspective

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from this trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip"

"It was great, Dad."

" Did you see how poor people live?" The father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from this trip?" asked the father.

The son answered. "I saw that we have one dog and they have four.

We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.

We have imported lantern in our garden and they have stars at night.

Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.

We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.

We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.

We have our food, but they grow theirs.

We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless. Then his son added, "Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all thank for everything we have instead of worrying about what we don't have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially family and friends.

Third Day of Fasting

First day berpuasa pada hari bekerja dah melalui cabaran dalam bulan Ramadhan ni. During the fasting month, Muslim employees are allowed to leave 1 hour earlier provided that one work through lunch. Although I started work at 8.30 a.m., I decided to leave only at 5.00 p.m. thinking that it would give me ample time to to go to bazaar Ramadhan kat Stadium Shah Alam and be home before masa berbuka. When I came out from the office lobby and walked towards the carpark, noticed that cars were queuing up opposite my office building. Ingatkan mungkin disebabkan simpang kat Jalan Pantai but by the time I drove out, I realized that the queue was all the way to Federal Highway up to exit ke LDP. It took me 45 minutes just to get to Federal Highway and by the time I reached home, azan from the nearby surau dah dilaungkan. Berbukalah dengan kueh teow semalam tapau masa berbuka di rumah Kema. Terkejar-kejar jugak mandi and bersiap-siap tarawih di Masjid Negeri Shah Alam. Alhamdulillah, dapat bertarawih dengan tenang. Selalunya buat 8 rakaat aje, by 9.20 p.m. dah selesai and sambung witir di rumah sebelum Subuh prayer.

Hari ni, berbuka meriah and lebih teratur. I decided to leave the office at 4.30 p.m, traffic was smooth and sempat balik rumah sebelum jumpa Zura di bazaar Ramadhan. Nampaknya, kena leave office at 4.30 p.m. on the dot sepanjang bulan Ramadhan ni. I bought a few kuih, nasi tomato and a couple of lauk untuk bersahur. As usual, bazaar Ramadhan kat Stadium Shah Alam ni memang banyak jugak gerai and choices. Kalau tak kawal nafsu membeli, boleh sampai beli more than one can eat and at the end pembaziran. By 6.30 p.m. headed back to my place untuk berbuka. Earlier, my aunt called nak berbuka kat rumah jugak. So, bertigalah berbuka hari ini. Seronok and lebih berselera kalau berbuka berteman ni.

Aiman Tak Kisah....

A couple of days ago I received an sms from my twin sister. Tergelak sorang-sorang bila baca sms tu.

"Kalau terasa nak buat jahat dalam bulan puasa tanyalah iman, tentu iman kata tak boleh. Jangan tanya aiman, nanti dia kata aiman tak kisah..."

Ramadhan Datang Lagi!

Ahad ini, September 24, 2006 bermulanya Ramadhan. Bulan mulia ni bulan ibadah bagi aku. Honestly, I am not a perfect Muslim, ada banyak flaws - for one I do not wear a headscarf. Sembahyang lima waktu, I strived untuk tidak tinggalkan walaupun kadangkala terbabas juga kerana lalai dengan urusan dunia. Nauzubillah! Sempena bulan Ramadhan ni, aku ambil kesempatan untuk tambahkan pahala dengan membuat sembahyang terawih di mana pahalanya berlimpat kali ganda. Like Stef said - to level the score. Last year, alhamdulillah aku dapat tunaikan sembahyang terawih hampir penuh except masa 'red flag' and a few days skip sebab terima jemputan berbuka puasa dengan kengkawan. Tahun ni, aku komited to fulfill sembahyang terawih jugak. Zura dah sound awal-awal nak berbuka puasa sekali dengan aku sepanjang Ramadhan and aku nak ajak dia terawih sekali. Last year masjid pilihan untuk berterawih were Masjid Besar Shah Alam and Masjid Wilayah Persekutuan kat Jalan Duta. I prefer to go to Masjid Wilayah sebab the ambience lebih tenang and bacaan imam memang very soothing but Masjid Shah Alam lebih dekat dengan rumah. Hopefully, Allah permudahkan urusan aku dalam memenuhi niat aku ni.

Lepas ni kena buka buku balik ulangkaji pasal sembahyang Terawih - almaklumlah setahun sekali aje buat.

EnTiTi

Sayup-sayup terdengar petikan gitar, sekali-sekala terdengar suara jeritan lelaki memecah keheningan pagi dari asrama pelajar lelaki. Release tensionlah tu! Almaklumlah final exam tinggal sebulan lagi. Aku masih tercanguk di meja study menelaah subject Accounting. Mata masih tidak mengantuk lagi walaupun jam dah menunjukkan pukul 3.00 pagi. Memikirkan ada kelas pukul 11.00 pagi, aku ambil keputusan untuk tidur. Nanti mengantuk pulak dalam kelas. Kawan sebilik aku, Azni dah lama koma, yang dua orang lagi, Linda dan Artie entah ke mana merayapnya.

Aku kemaskan semua buku dan padamkan lampu kamar. Suasana dalam kamar masih samar-samar oleh cahaya dari asrama pelajar lelaki yang terletak di atas bukit di hadapan blok aku. Aku pejamkan mata, pusing kiri dan kanan, masih lagi sukar nak lelapkan mata. Keadaan malam yang agak panas menyukarkan lagi untuk aku tidur walaupun kipas di tengah kamar ligat berpusing dengan kelajuan yang maksimum. Cuba jugak kira anak kambing lompat pagar, kut-kut boleh tidur, masih tak berhasil. Tipulah siapa yang bagi petua kira anak kambing ni boleh tidur. Aku baring mengiring betul-betul di tepi katil supaya boleh kena angin dari kipas. Yalah, katil aku double decker dan aku di bahagian bawah. Aku pejamkan mata dan fikiran mula melayang tentang kisah lalu dan berangan tentang masa hadapan, cubaan terakhir untuk tidur. Manalah tahu, bila otak letih berimaginasi, terlelap kut mata.

Tiba-tiba, aku terasa tilam di sebelah belakang aku tenggelam seperti dibaringi seseorang. Kemudian aku terdengar bantal kepalaku dicakar berulang kali. Tubuhku terus kaku, hatiku berdebar-debar, mata ku pejamkan rapat-rapat dan aku mula membaca di dalam hati ayat-ayat suci yang aku hafal dari ayat lazim hinggalah ayat kursi. Semasa itu, aku teringat kisah yang aku dengar tentang pelajar dihempap oleh sesuatu semasa tidur. Sedang aku asyik membaca ayat-ayat suci, aku dikejutkan pula dengan bunyi yang amat kuat. Ku bukakan mataku sedikit dan aku terlihat satu lembaga hitam lebih kurang 7 kaki tingginya berdiri di tepi pintu sedang menghentam pintu kamarku dengan kuat hingga bergegar pintu tersebut. Ku pejamkan mata semula dan tidak putus-putus membaca ayat-ayat suci. Berbagai perkara bermain dalam fikiranku, tergerak jugak untuk berteriak dan melaungkan Allahuakbar tapi aku batalkan niat aku dan mengambil keputusan untuk mematikan diri.

Selepas beberapa kali, bunyi itu berhenti. Aku terdengar pulak satu suara membuat bunyi ketawa "He he he" beberapa kali. Hatiku berkata-kata, "Alamak, apa pulak ni." Aku memberanikan diri untuk membuka mataku sedikit. Dalam cahaya samar-samar itu, kelihatan satu makhluk bertubuh sasa dengan bentuk tubuh setengah manusia dan setengah beruk ala-ala dalam cerita Planet of The Apes. Makhluk itu berlari-lari kecil dengan menghentakkan kakinya sambil ketawa di tengah kamarku. Beberapa kali aku pejam dan buka mataku sedikit memerhatikan tingkahlaku makhluk itu. Risau jugak aku kalau tiba-tiba ia menerkam aku. Selepas tiga kali berlari-lari di tengah kamarku, ia lenyap dari pandangan dan aku terasa benda yang berbaring di belakang aku juga bangun dari katilku. Tiba-tiba, terdengar kembali petikan gitar dan suara dari asrama pelajar lelaki. Sepanjang aku diganggu oleh sesuatu, lembaga dan makhluk itu, aku seperti berada di alam lain kerana aku dapat melihat Azni tetapi dia sedikit pun tidak terjaga dek bunyi yang kuat di pintu dan gelak ketawa makhluk tersebut. Tanpa aku membuang masa, aku terus terjun dari katil dan lompat ke katil Azni. Azni terjaga dan tanya aku kenapa. Aku cakap esok aku cerita sebab hati aku masih berdebar-debar dan aku tak mahu takutkan dia. Sempat juga aku tengok jam di tangan aku - pukul 3.30 pagi.

Cerita ni memang kisah benar. Aku pasti sebab aku memang cubit diri aku sendiri semasa didatangi oleh gangguan-gangguan tersebut. Aku pernah terbaca dan terdengar mengenai ada tabir yang memisahkan dunia manusia dan dunia makhluk halus ni, jin atau syaitan. Ada masanya, tabir ni tersingkap dan manusia dapat melihat makhluk alam lain ini. Mungkin sesetengah orang anggap sesiapa yang dapat peluang melihat atau berjumpa makhluk alam lain ni bertuah tetapi bagi aku cukuplah sekali melalui pengalaman tersebut.

Semasa aku menulis entry ini, beberapa kali bulu roma ku meremang...................

Annual Beach Cleanup @ Teluk Kemang, PD

I departed from home exactly at 6.00 a.m., left my car at the office and took Putra LRT to KL Sentral, meeting point for all volunteers. By the time we got onto the bus, it was already 7.30 a.m. and we only arrived at Teluk Kemang on the dot 9.00 a.m. We had to change to the event T-Shirt distributed on that day though we were very much prefer to just wear and show off our company's T-Shirt especially when we females ended up with L and XL size T-Shirts which were too big for us. Volunteers were asked to form into group of 4, each group were given garbage bags, gloves and a form listing categories of garbage that we need to record. We were told that the data we collected will be used for research purposes.

After speeches by the Managing Director of Body Shop, Country Manager of Coca-Cola Malaysia and a local VIP, off we went on garbage-hunting. Our plan was to walk together and one person was supposed to record the type of garbage collected but I guess eventually whilst we were busy scanning the beach for rubbish, we tend to wander off and went our separate ways. It was not suprising that the highest type of rubbish collected were cigarette butts. Our group managed to collect 16kg load of rubbish whilst some collected more than 100kg of garbage (though some of us silently protested deadwood does not count as garbage!)

After lunch, prizes were given out for the heaviest garbage, the most variety and the highest type of rubbish collected. Our group did not win in any of the category. Although the event started late, it ended on time. It was supposed to be free and easy at the beach after lunch but all of us were so dead tired. The organizer arranged for the buses to depart earlier than schedule and we slept throughout the whole journey back.

Latest Addition To My Book Collection

Bought them at MPH, SAC Mall, Shah Alam today

The Harmony Silk Factory By Tash Aw

This is the story of Johnny Lim, textile merchant, petty crook and inventor of the Amazing Machine, and his marriage to the beautiful Snow Soong.

In 1940, with the Japanese about to invade Malaysia, Johnny and Snow embark on their honeymoon to the mysterious Seven Maiden Islands, accompanied by a mercurial Japanese professor and Peter Wormwood, an Englishman adrift. Many years later, Wormwood looks back on this defining journey, while Snow's son goes in search of the truth of his mother and the infamous Chinese man she married.

The Other Side Of The Story By Marian Keyes

Jojo, a high-flying literary agent on the up, has just made a very bad career move: she jumped into bed with her married boss, Mark ....

Jojo's sweet-natured client, Lily's first novel is a roaring success. She and lover Anton celebrate by spending the advance for her second book. Then she gets writer's block......

Gemma used to be Lily's nest friend - until Lily 'stole' Anton. Now she's writing her own story - painfully and hilariously - when super-shark agent Jojo stumbles across it.....

When their fortunes entangled it, it seems too much to hope that they'll all find a happy ending. But maybe they'll each discover that there's more than one side to every story.....

My Favourite Goodbye By Sheila O'Flanagan

Ash O'Halloran knows she should be having the time of her life. She's twenty-nine, single and self-suporting. So shouldn't she be out there every night, swiling Chardonnay and falling in love? Or if she isn't, at least having a great time moaning about it with her friends?

Doesn't she know how to be a single woman?

Trouble is, Ash likes things as they are. She doesn't do impulsive and relationships scare her to death. At the first hint of commitment, it's goodbye. No way is she going to let herself get hurt.

But as Ash watches Dan Morland - who employed her to cook the ultimate dinner the night he proposed to his girlfriend - trying to sort out a life with the woman he loves. she begins to wonder if being Miss Self-Contained-and-Secure might also mean Missing Out.....

So, This Is How Fresh Dates Look Like...Duh!

Has anyone seen how fresh dates look like? Well, I haven't till yesterday. On the way back from lunch at the usual place with the usual suspect, I saw a few people flocking at this stall membelek-belek this fruit. Usually, stall ni jual jajan, raisins, asam and dried dates. Out of curiosity, I stopped and asked the kakak, "Buah apa ni, kak?" "Fresh dates, dik dari Madinah" the kakak replied. Another person asked how does it taste. Kakak tu rasanya kelat. Teringin jugak nak rasa, so I bought some. Mahal jugak fresh dates ni, RM4 for every 100gm. I bought about RM30 bila fikirkan mak akan datang ke rumah hari ini. Bolehlah rasa kut-kut dia tak pernah rasa.

Sampai kat office, aku letakkan plastik berisi fresh dates tu di atas meja. Rasalah sebijik dua, rasanya taklah kelat sangat tapi campur rasa lemak manis jugak. It drew attention a few colleagues yang turut merasa. Some like it, some don't. Well, terpulanglah. Different people ada citarasa yang berlainan. Siapa teringin nak rasa, carilah sendiri yea....

The Office

Hari ni put extra hours at the office. Pukul 8.30 p.m. baru balik. Managed to clear a lot of tasks and did some filings. Aman rasanya sebab takde gangguan. Kalau tidak boss aku jap-jap panggil and a discussion that should take a few minutes dragged sampai berjam-jam sebab dia suka meleret-leret. Aku tekad tak bawak laptop balik so that aku tak teruja to continue work at home. Seronok rasanya duduk kat lokasi cubicle baru ni and I have started to personalize my work area dengan decoration and plants. Tapi my boss said this is temporary and early next year mungkin kena relocate lagi.

The signs I put up continue to receive comments from my colleagues. One said I should just leave it there because everytime she passes and sees the signs, they brought smile to her face. It also caught the attention of one German visitors and he came to my place just to find out who the 'culprit' was and commented 'It's very funny." Some said macam treasure huntlah and I retorted, "Tapi ni takde treasure to collect or giftlah, just me."

Masa aku berjalan through the pantry area to go to another wing, I didn't notice the cleaner was mopping the floor and aku terus jalan through the wet floor, terpelecok lah pulak. Immediately terasa a sharp pain around my ankle. Berhenti sekejap, gosok-gosok kat buku lali tu. Rasanya tersalah urat, jalan pun kena slowdown sikit. Sampai sekarang masih lagi terasa sakitnya. Kena urutlah jawabnya tapi siapa yang boleh urutkan yea....

At lunch, my colleague told me that last nite her husband was robbed at knife point at basement parking KLCC. He was working late and when he was opening the car door, a man pointed a knife at him and told him to surrender his wallet. He did not fight back and did as told. Luckily he was not harmed. Today, KLCC security informed him that his wallet has been found and all his personal documents, credit cards and bank cards remained intact, only cash yang kena kebas - about a few hundred aje. Tak tahulah apa nak jadi dengan dunia sekarang. Jenayah merata-rata, daring sungguh orang-orang ni lakukan jenayah sampai sanggup membunuh.

Minta aku dilindungi Tuhan dari situasi begini. Amin.....

Shell and Petronas vie for Jet stations as Conoco pulls out

Bangkok Post - Thailand/Monday September 11, 2006

SOONRUTH BUNYAMANEE

Shell and Petronas are interested in acquiring the JET petrol stations operated by Conoco (Thailand) Co. The US-based oil company has decided to withdraw from Thailand after failing to break even after 15 years. The firm has quietly approached several oil companies operating locally, including PTT Plc, about selling its 147 petrol stations nationwide. Industry executives now believe Conoco will call for public bids for the Thai operations in the near future. "We're interested in participating in the bids once Conoco begins the process," said Tiraphot Vajrabhaya, the chairman of Shell Company of Thailand. he said the multinational was always exploring opportunities to expand, particularly in Asia Pacific, under its "move from West to East" startegy. "However, the final decision of Shell (regarding Conoco) will depend on conditions, the market situation, potential and pricing," he said. Conoco is estimated to have invested more than four billion bhat in its Thai operations but Mr Tiraphot said the price of any acquisition was likely to be lower once depreciation and current market value were taken into account. For one thing, he said, the current climate of the retail oil business in Thailand was very poor. "With minimal margins for retail oil trading, we will definitely not expand the business this year." He expected the bidding process, if it went ahead, to last for six to 12 months. Mr Tiraphot said Shell would invest 200 million baht for general maintenance of its stations to sustain businesses for this year, substantially lower than its normal investment of 700-800 million baht a year. Shell has been closing around 10 poorly performing stations per year and now has 580 sites, a figure it expects will decline to around 500 over time. A Petronas executive confirmed that the Malaysian company planned to bid for the Jet stations to strengthen its presence in Thailand. However, Mohd Aidnil Abdul Razak, chief executive of Petronas Retail (Thailand) Co Ltd, said the company would not expand its network this year beyond the 117 stations it now has. "We are always seeking opportunities to expand business, but if Conoco formally opens bidding, I will have to convey the message to my headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and the decision will be made there," he said.

A Good Week!

Kelmarin aku berpindah ke another cubicle. Yang bestnya sebab secluded and ada privacy memandangkan my work deals a lot with confidential matters. Yang tak bestnya, betul-betul kat depan bilik boss. Bak kata pepatah Melayu, sekangkang kera atau sepelaung aje. Half day gone just moving and re-arranging the files and cabinets. Dahlah tu, pagi-pagi lagi my laptop buat hal, tak boleh nak login to network. Banyak kerja yang tergendala. Contact IT support pun, tengahari baru datang selepas aku berjaya solve the problem on my own. After lunch kat Rivierra (nama glamour untuk food court kat tepi longkang besar), aku singgah kat mini mart in my office building beli 1 box of mini cornetto ice-cream for lelaki-lelaki gagah yang tolong aku move the cabinets. Ice-cream yang selebihnya jadi rebutan yang lain. First come first yang merasalah.

Selepas aku pindah, some people have problems finding me. So, I put up a few signs to direct them to my new cubicle which is just 20 steps away - NURUL HAS MOVED (With an arrow sign)......U'RE GETTING CLOSER (with pictures of footsteps).......ALMOST THERE, ABOUT 5 STEPS AWAY.......CONGRATULATIONS! U'VE FOUND ME. Macam mini treasure hunt pulak. In spite of the signs, ada yang masih asked people around where am I. I guess either they do not see the signs or some people are just not good at reading signs walaupun aku rasa signs aku tu 'terang lagi bersuluh'. Ramai yang jadi guide tak bertauliah directing these people to my cubicle. Several people teased me about the signs I put up, ala just to add humour in the office.

Minggu ni jugak aku terima call dari headhunter about a managerial job in a UK-based retail company. I told the headhunter I am not interested but she insisted of e-mailing me the job profile. After a couple of days, baru aku berkesempatan accessing my personal e-mail and read the job profile. It looks like a good career move but I'd like to prove myself in this company and I enjoy what I am doing right now. Lagipun, I just joined the company for less than 3 months. I replied to the e-mail and recommended a friend to the headhunter instead.

Alhamdulillah, rezeki aku murah sejak akhir-akhir ni. This is the 10th job opportunities I was being considered for, mostly from MNCs including 5 from oil & gas (the industry where I have worked in for almost 7 years), 2 pharmaceautical companies, 1 FMCG company and 1 each from an Arab-based broadcasting company and service company. I politely told the headhunters/company I did not wish to explore but will let them know if I wish to move on. You have to build a good rapport with them because you'll never know when you will need them. I also pity my friend who never seem to give up persuading me to join her and even willing to pay whatever salary I want just to lure me. But then again, although dollar and cent tu penting, I also value job satisfaction, working environment and quality of working life. To prove that, I gave up a job in an oil & gas company which provides better compensation and benefits package after two and a half weeks to join my current company merely because I like the job scope better.

This morning, on the way to work, sempat aku habiskan baca buku cerita The Undomestic Goddess' whilst stopping at traffic lights and caught in the usual slow moving morning traffic on Federal Highway. Now I can start reading another Sophie Kinsella's 'Can You Keep A Secret' which I just bought last Thursday at MPH.

That morning juga, received sms from sis, Kema 'This Sunday buat apa? Dtg la rumah kita makan. About 11 camtu. Plse confirm - in preparation to cook. Menu nasi lemak dan mee kari (ye la takan steak lak! Tak reti) Sms to confirm. By tomorrow morning'. Tak sempat nak reply sebab busy with work. Petang Kema dah call minta confirmation sebab dia nak pergi beli groceries. I asked her to buy some other things because I plan nak tambah a few dishes especially when she said she dah terover invite people mainly our relatives.

Later in the evening, a friend called and asked me to participate in a focus group study about water purifier where participants will be paid RM60 for 1.5 hour session. Terpaksa turn down sebab firstly, not interested and secondly kena help Kema with her Sunday luncheon.

Who is Tan Sri?

I was asked this quetion by a few people since I posted entry 'One Quiet Sunday Night'. Biarlah rahsia? Maybe, but when it's time to let the cat out of the bag, don't expect any fairytale lavish wedding like CT. One thing for sure, he's a friend who always make you feel special just the way you are.